The Delhi High Court on Friday sought response from Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on pleas lodged by former Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia seeking bail in the money laundering and corruption cases related to the liquor policy case.
A single judge bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma sought response of the central agencies and listed the matter for hearing next on May 08. Appearing for Manish Sisodia, Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan said that an application has also been moved seeking that during the pendency of the bail pleas, the trial court order allowing the former Deputy Chief Minister to meet his ailing wife once a week, be continued.
Representing ED, Special counsel Zoheb Hossain contended that the investigation agency has no objection if the trial court order is continued. AAP leader Manish Sisodia moved the Delhi High Court against the trial court orders dismissing his second bail plea in both CBI and ED cases on April 30.
Denying bail in the money laundering case, the trial court dismissed Manish Sisodia’s plea that the proceedings in the case have been delayed or that the case is proceeding at a snail’s pace. It had observed that the so-called delay is clearly on account of reasons attributable to the AAP leader himself.
Manish Sisodia was denied bail by the trial court, Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court in both ED and CBI cases. The top court had also dismissed Sisodia’s review petitions against the denial of bail and his curative petitions have also been dismissed.
The apex court, while dismissing his bail plea, had last year said that he can file a fresh bail plea before the trial court if the trial proceeds at a snail’s pace. The former Deputy Chief Minister was first arrested by CBI and ED on February 26 and March 9 last year respectively.
Manish Sisodia’s bail applications in both cases were dismissed by Special Judge MK Nagpal (now transferred) on March 31 and April 28 last year. Later, the Delhi High Court denied bail to the AAP leader in both cases after which he moved the Supreme Court against both the verdicts.
The Supreme Court refused to grant bail to the former Delhi deputy chief minister on October 30, 2023.