Manish Sisodia's Bail Plea Hearing In SC Hits Roadblock As Judge Recuses Himself

The Supreme Court Thursday adjourned the hearing on former Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia's bail plea in the Delhi excise policy case to next week after Justice Sanjay Kumar recused himself from the case.

The matter was initially scheduled for hearing on July 11 before a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Sanjay Karol, and Sanjay Kumar.

As the hearing commenced, Justice Khanna stated, "Our brother has some difficulty. He will not like to hear this matter for personal reasons."

Consequently, the bench announced that another bench without Justice Sanjay Kumar would take up Sisodia's bail pleas in the cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the Aam Aadmi Party, urged for an urgent listing of the matter, highlighting the importance of time and noting that the trial had not yet commenced in both cases. The bench responded that another bench would address the matter on July 15.

Previously, on June 4, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain Sisodia's bail pleas in the cases lodged by the CBI and ED concerning the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam.

Sisodia had earlier challenged the Delhi High Court's May 21 verdict, which dismissed his bail pleas, as well as a trial court's April 30 order rejecting his bail applications.

On October 30 of the previous year, the Supreme Court had denied Sisodia bail in the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, citing evidence that supported the accusation of "windfall gains" of Rs 338 crore to wholesale liquor dealers.

Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, for his alleged involvement in the liquor policy case, and subsequently by the ED on March 9, 2023, in the money laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR. He resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.