The Supreme Court of India on Monday denied bail to Manish Sisodia, the deputy chief minister of Delhi, in connection with a corruption case involving the city’s liquor policy.
The court ruled that the money trail had been established in the case and that the investigation was still ongoing. The court also noted that Sisodia is a high-profile individual and that his release on bail could hamper the investigation.
Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 24, 2023, on charges of corruption and money laundering. The CBI alleges that Sisodia and other government officials conspired to favor certain liquor companies in the awarding of liquor licenses in Delhi.
Sisodia’s lawyers had argued that he was innocent and that he had been framed by the CBI. They also argued that Sisodia was not a flight risk and that he would cooperate with the investigation.
However, the Supreme Court rejected Sisodia’s bail plea. The court observed that the CBI had established a prima facie case against Sisodia and that there was a reasonable possibility that he could influence witnesses or tamper with evidence if he was released on bail.
The Supreme Court’s denial of bail to Sisodia is a major setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which he is a member of. The AAP has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the CBI to target Sisodia and other AAP leaders.
The Delhi excise policy scam case is still under investigation. It is unclear when the trial will begin or when Sisodia will be released from custody.