New Delhi: New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday (December 11) deleted the bail conditions requiring Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia to report to the investigating officer (IO) twice a week in the excise policy cases.
A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan deleted the said bail conditions on a plea filed by Sisodia seeking relaxation in his bail conditions.
What did the apex court say?
“We do not find the said condition is necessary. The said condition is deleted. However, petitioner shall regularly attend the trial,” the bench said.
The apex court had on November 22 agreed to hear the plea filed by Sisodia seeking relaxation of bail conditions and had sought the responses from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) while issuing notices to the central agencies.
Apex Court on August 9 granted bail to Sisodia in CBI, ED cases
The Supreme Court granted bail to former Delhi deputy chief minister Sisodia on August 9 in corruption and money laundering cases lodged by the CBI and ED in connection with alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy. The apex court, while granting bail to the AAP leader, had said that on account of a long period of incarceration running for around 17 months and the trial even not having been commenced, he has been deprived of his right to speedy trial.
What did apex court say while granting bail to Sisodia?
“In our view, keeping the appellant behind the bars for an unlimited period of time in the hope of speedy completion of trial would deprive his fundamental right to liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. As observed time and again, the prolonged incarceration before being pronounced guilty of an offence should not be permitted to become punishment without trial,” the apex court had said while granting bail to Sisodia in both cases.
What conditions apex court imposed while granting bail to Sisodia?
The apex court, while allowing Sisodia’s plea seeking bail in both corruption and money laundering cases, had directed the Sisodia to surrender his passport with the special court, to report to the Investigating Officer on every Monday and Thursday between 10-11 AM and to not make any attempt either to influence the witnesses or to tamper with the evidence.
