A Delhi court has taken action on Friday regarding a plea made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former deputy chief minister, Manish Sisodia. Sisodia sought interim bail to engage in campaigning for the general elections. The court, situated in Rouse Avenue and presided over by special judge Kaveri Baweja, has directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of India (CBI) to provide their responses by April 20. This date marks when the court is set to review the plea.
The central probe agencies, CBI and ED, have leveled allegations of irregularities against Sisodia, primarily concerning modifications to Delhi’s excise policy. These purported irregularities include accusations of providing undue favors to license holders, granting waivers of license fees, and extending licenses without proper approval. It is claimed that the accused officials benefited unlawfully from these actions, diverting illegal gains for personal gain and falsifying accounts to evade detection.
Manish Sisodia found himself in legal trouble when he was arrested by the CBI on February 26 and subsequently by the ED on March 9 last year in connection with these allegations. Consequently, he resigned from his position in the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.
In previous proceedings, the ED opposed Sisodia’s regular bail plea, asserting that any delays were not due to the prosecution’s actions but rather because of frivolous applications filed by the accused persons in the excise policy case. Consequently, the court extended Sisodia’s judicial custody until April 18. However, Sisodia’s legal counsel countered this by highlighting a delay in the trial proceedings, arguing that the trial is progressing at an extremely slow pace.
The development underscores the legal complexities surrounding the allegations against Sisodia and the efforts to secure bail for his involvement in the case. It also raises questions about the pace and efficiency of the judicial process in resolving such matters. The forthcoming responses from the ED and CBI on April 20 will play a crucial role in determining the next steps in Sisodia’s legal battle.
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