On Friday, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the plea filed by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia. Sisodia is seeking a relaxation of the condition imposed as part of his bail, which requires him to report to the investigating officer (IO) every Monday and Thursday. The Bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, clarified that the matter would be decided at the next hearing without any adjournment.
The Court granted two weeks for the ED to respond to the notice, with the Bench explicitly stating, “We make it clear we will decide the application on the next date.” Sisodia’s counsel, Senior Advocate AM Singhvi, emphasized that his client is a respected individual who has already complied with the reporting condition 60 times. He also pointed out that no other accused in similar cases is burdened with such frequent attendance requirements. Singhvi urged the Court to hear the matter sooner, expressing concern that the opposing side might request an adjournment, a request the Court denied.
In August, the Supreme Court granted bail to Sisodia in the cases filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the Delhi Excise Policy. The Court noted that the prolonged delay in the trial violated Sisodia’s right to a speedy trial, a cornerstone of personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The bail was granted with the following conditions:
- A bail bond of ₹10,00,000 with two sureties of the same amount
- Surrendering his passport to the authorities
- Reporting to the investigating officer every Monday and Thursday between 10 AM and 11 AM
Sisodia’s legal team is now seeking to relax the latter condition, arguing that it imposes an undue burden on him, given his consistent compliance thus far.
Sisodia had been in custody since February 26, 2023, before being granted bail in August 2024. The allegations against him, along with other AAP leaders, center on claims that the Delhi Excise Policy was altered to benefit certain liquor vendors in return for bribes, which allegedly funded the AAP’s election campaign in Goa.
Before his bail was granted, Sisodia had filed several unsuccessful bail applications. His legal representatives have raised concerns that the conditions placed upon him are excessively harsh compared to other accused in similar cases. The case continues to attract political attention due to its implications for the AAP leadership, and advocate Vivek Jain is leading Sisodia’s defense in these ongoing proceedings.
