The Supreme Court on June 4 did not give Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia bail in the Delhi liquor policy case.
A Vacation Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Sandeep Mehta, however, gave Mr. Sisodia liberty to “revive” his plea for bail, afresh, as soon as the final chargesheet/prosecution complaint is filed by the CBI and ED, respectively, in the case.
The court recorded an undertaking given by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for both the CBI and the ED, that the final chargesheet/prosecution complaint, signalling the completion of investigation in the excise policy case, would be filed in the trial court on or before July 3, 2024.
The Vacation Bench referred to an order passed by a Coordinate Bench of the Supreme Court on October 30, 2023 while dealing with an earlier plea for bail by Mr. Sisodia.
The October 30 order had recorded the prosecution’s assurance that they (CBI/ED) would take steps to conclude the criminal trial in the next six to eight months by taking appropriate steps.
The Vacation Bench said the period of “six to eight months” was not over yet.
“The period of ‘6-8 months’ fixed by this court by order dated October 30, 2023 having not come to an end, it would suffice to dispose of these petitions with liberty to the petitioner to revive his prayer afresh after filing of the final complaint/chargesheet, as assured by the Solicitor General,” the court order noted on Tuesday.
The Vacation Bench refused to comment on the merits of the case.
“We will not say anything. We will dispose with liberty to revive your (Sisodia) prayers. We are not saying anything on merits and all contentions are left open. In both the CBI and ED cases the order is common. We have recorded Mr. Mehta’s statement that final chargesheet/complaint will filed by July 3,” Justice Kumar informed the parties in court.
The Bench did not clarify whether Mr. Sisodia, who was arrested in February 2023, could apply for bail directly in the Supreme Court or climb up the ladder again from the trial court onwards.
“Where do I ‘revive’ my plea for bail? I am inside for 15 months. Let me be very blunt here… Trial courts do not deal with politically sensitive matters,” senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, for Mr. Sisodia, submitted.
Justice Kumar responded there have been instances in the past when judges have sat late into the night to hear bail matters.
The Delhi High Court had refused to grant bail to Mr. Sisodia in the case on May 21 in the liquor policy case.
Published - June 04, 2024 03:43 pm IST
