New Delhi, July 3, 2023: In a significant development, the Delhi High Court dismissed the bail petition of Manish Sisodia, former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, in a case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy.
The court also rejected the bail pleas of Vijay Nair, the former communication in charge of the Aam Aadmi Party, Abhishek Boinpally, a Hyderabad-based businessman, and Binoy Babu Binoy, a manager with liquor company Pernod Ricard, who were also involved in the same case.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, presiding over the bench, stated that the court found no faults with the trial court’s decision to deny bail to Manish Sisodia. The court expressed concerns about the possibility of tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses, citing the unsatisfied conditions under Section 45. Thus, the bail was denied.
Previously, the trial court had also denied bail to the accused individuals in this case.
Additionally, the Delhi High Court had earlier dismissed Manish Sisodia’s bail plea in a separate case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which alleged corruption in the implementation of a previous liquor policy in the national capital. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, while denying bail in the CBI case, expressed apprehension that Sisodia’s influential position could lead to the manipulation of witnesses.
Furthermore, the Rouse Avenue Court had rejected Manish Sisodia’s bail plea in a money laundering case related to the Excise scam. The court emphasized the seriousness of the economic offenses and their repercussions on the general public, noting evidence indicating Sisodia’s involvement. It revealed that some of the kickbacks received were allegedly used for the AAP’s election campaign in Goa, with cash payments made through hawala channels. The court highlighted the creation of fake invoices as a cover-up for these transactions.
Considering the gravity of the allegations, the court concluded that a prima facie case existed against Manish Sisodia for his alleged role in the criminal conspiracy and the commission of money laundering offenses. The court reasoned that the prosecution had presented convincing oral and documentary evidence, warranting restrictions under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
On March 9, 2023, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case after extensive questioning at Tihar Jail. Prior to that, the CBI had also arrested him as part of their ongoing investigation into irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD).
The court’s decision to reject the bail pleas has raised significant implications for the ongoing legal proceedings, highlighting the gravity of the charges and the need to ensure a fair trial in the case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy.