The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its judgment on the bail petition of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in connection with a money laundering case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi liquor policy scam case.
During the course of hearing, the Bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan asked the ED, how long it would take to complete the trial in the case.
The Apex Court further expressed its displeasure over the ED’s arguments that Sisodia had filed multiple applications before the trial court seeking supply of various documents, which led to a delay in the trial.
The Bench observed that none of the applications have been rejected on the grounds of being vexatious. It said the national agency supplied the documents to the petitioner only after he moved the applications.
Noting that there was no word as ‘frivolous’ in the order, the Court asked the agency to show words such as ‘vexatious’ and ‘intended to delay trial’.
Appearing for ED, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju contended that the trial would have commenced, if it wasn’t for the supply of these documents, which was completely unwarranted. The delay was completely attributable to Sisodia and not the agency, he added.
He contended that a speedy trial could not be fitted in a straightjacket formula as it was on a case-by-case basis. They did not want the matter to be heard on merits. So, the best option (for them) has been to delay it, alleged the ED counsel.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023, over the alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
Subsequently, ED also filed a case against the AAP leader under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
As per the agencies, officials of the Delhi government tweaked the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 to benefit certain liquor sellers in exchange for bribes that were used to fund the AAP’s elections in Goa.
Sisodia has filed several bail applications in the matter.
His first round of bail applications was rejected in 2023, including by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had granted liberty to Sisodia to file for bail again, if the trial progressed at a slow pace. He then filed a second round of bail pleas, which also came to be rejected.