Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia on July 6 appealed to the Supreme Court for bail in the liquor policy ‘scam’ case.
The Delhi High Court had in May refused to grant him bail after agreeing with the objection of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that he was an influential person who may use his power to influence witnesses and derail the case.
Similarly in July, Mr. Sisodia could not obtain bail in money laundering charges arraigned against him in connection with the excise policy case.
The High Court had, while refusing bail, pointed out that Mr. Sisodia’s political party was in power in the national capital. The witnesses in the case were largely public servants. As Deputy Chief Minister, he had held no less than 18 Ministerial portfolios.
Also Read | Excise policy scam: Delhi HC dismisses Manish Sisodia’s bail plea in money laundering case
He was arrested by the CBI on February 26 for alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 following several rounds of questioning.
In March, the trial court had dismissed his bail plea saying he was prima facie the “architect” of the alleged scam and had played the “most important and vital role” in the criminal conspiracy related to alleged payment of advance kickbacks of ₹90-100 crore meant for him and his colleagues in the Delhi government.
