Delhi Court Denies Bail To Manish Sisodia In Liquor Policy Case; AAP Says, Will Move High Court Against Order

The second bail application of former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia was rejected by the Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday (30 April) in the liquor policy case.

The verdict was pronounced by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who had reserved the order after hearing arguments of CBI, ED and Sisodia's counsel on 20 April.

Sisodia was seeking interim bail in CBI and ED cases to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, which are scheduled for 25 May in Delhi.

However, ED argued that policy could not be framed without Sisodia and it would have cost hundreds of crores annually to consumers.

ED's counsel Zoheb Hossain argued earlier that Sisodia admitted that there was no calculation done to arrive at the figure of 12 per cent.

Sisodia was arrested on 26 February 2023 by CBI over charges of money laundering. He is currently in judicial custody under allegations of manipulating liquor policy for undue gains.

Responding to the court's order, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said that it will move the Delhi High Court for Sisodia's bail, Indian Express reported.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is also in judicial custody in the same case and was arrested by ED on 21 March. Unlike Sisodia, he did not resign from his post after his arrest.

A hearing was held in the Supreme Court on Kejriwal's plea challenging arrest where the top court has questioned ED over the timing of the Delhi CM's arrest.