The Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court today adjourned hearing of a bail plea filed by AAP leader Manish Sisodia as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had not filed a response in the court.
The district judge ordered the Enforcement Directorate to file a reply by next hearing and asserted that no further opportunity will be granted to file a reply after this. The Delhi court has listed the matter for further hearing on February 5.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed its response on Sisodia’s application. The AAP leader had moved the Delhi court seeking regular bail in the alleged Delhi Excise policy scam. He has also prayed for custody parole for two days to meet his ailing wife every week.
On January 28, the Delhi Court had issued notice to ED and CBI seeking their reply on his application by Friday. Manish Sisodia was arrested in connection with a Delhi Liquor Policy Scam by the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation.
Manish Sisodia was previously denied interim bail by trial court and then the Delhi High Court. He then approached the top court against the high court order denying him bail. The Supreme Court dismissed his petition in October 2023 after hearing arguments at length. The top court had observed that one aspect regarding transfer of money is tentatively established.
Nonetheless, the apex court had passed directions that the trial in the case should be finished within six to eight months. If the case goes at a slower pace then Manish Sisodia will be entitled to apply for bail again within three months.
The liquor policy scam relates to the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders that allegedly allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had paid bribes for it. The charge has been repeatedly refuted by the Aam Aadmi Party. However, the policy was subsequently scrapped.