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Synopsis

The Supreme Court Friday has rejected the bail plea of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister on the ground of his wife's ill-health. The top court said that the medical records reveal that her condition is stable.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna & SV Bhatti said to Mr. AM Singhvi appearing for the accused minister in the Delhi liquor scam that his wife's condition can be managed with medication.

Though Singhvi stated that the accused may be given a few weeks on bail,  the bench was not inclined to grant him the relief. Instead, it listed the case next month, on September 4 and ordered the Enforcement Directorate to file its reply. It will now hear both the cases seeking interim bail as well as regular bail together.

Earlier, on February 28, a CJI DY Chandrachud-led bench of the Supreme Court dismissed former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia's plea challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in case of corruption relating to liquor excise policy. The bench also comprising Justice PS Narasimha had held that "other efficacious remedies were available" to Sisodia.

Apart from his current plea for bail on the ground of ill-health of his wife, he has also challenged the challenged the Delhi High Court's order denying him bail wherein it was noted that in view of the high political power held by the accused (Manish Sisodia) and his position in the party (Aam Aadmi Party) in power in Delhi, the possibility of influencing the witnesses cannot be ruled out. 

"In view of the high political power held by the accused (Manish Sisodia) and his position in the party (Aam Aadmi Party) in power in Delhi, the possibility of influencing the witnesses cannot be ruled out. The twin conditions in the PMLA are in addition to the triple test. This court is of the considered view that petitioner has not only been able to pass the twin conditions provided u/S. 45 of PMLA, but has also not crossed the triple test. I consider in the view of discussion made herein above that the petitioner is not entitled to bail. The petition is accordingly dismissed", the court had then ordered.

Notably, Sisodia’s bail plea in the CBI case was 'dismissed' by Special Judge MK Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi on March 31. While rejecting the bail plea, the court had stated that Sisodia played "the most important and vital role" in the criminal conspiracy, and he had been "deeply involved" in the formulation and implementation of the said policy.

“Manish Sisodia was not only an architect of above criminal conspiracy, but also the brain behind insertion of clauses of 12% profit margin for wholesalers and of enhancement of eligibility criteria for wholesalers from Rs. 100 crores to Rs. 500 crores”, the court had observed.

Case Title: Manish Sisodia Vs. CBI, ED