NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea for bail by former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy scam case as the Enforcement Directorate said that it would file the final charge sheet by July 3.
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Sandeep Mehta granted him liberty to file a fresh plea.
Also Read - Manish Sisodia Bail: Court Cites "Great Betrayal of Democratic Principles" in Liquor Policy Case
Senior A M Singhvi appeared for the petitioner and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the Directorate of Enforcement and Central Bureau of Investigation.
Singhvi contended the trial court generally does not grant bail in politically sensitive cases.
"We do not propose to go into the arguments or dwell upon it and then record our reasons for the simple reason that co-ordinate bench while dismissing the appeals on October 30, 2023, has granted liberty to the appellant, i.e., the petitioner herein to move a fresh application for bail," the bench said.
The court also noted the petitioner was then given the assurance on behalf of the prosecution that they would conclude the trial by taking appropriate steps within next 6-8 months and as such the liberty was extended to the petitioner herein to move a fresh application in case of change in circumstances, or in case the trial is protracted and proceeds at a snails pace in next three months.
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It was also observed that if such an application is filed in the circumstances, the same would be considered by the trial court on merits without being influenced by the dismissal of the earlier bail application including the judgment of this court, the bench pointed out.
Mehta submitted that the investigation would be concluded and final complaint or charge sheet would be filed expeditiously and at any rate on or before July 03 and immediately thereafter, the trial court will be free to proceed with trial.
"In light of the submissions made and having regard to the fact that the period of 6-8 months fixed by this court by order on October 30, 2023 having not come to an end, it would suffice to dispose of these petitions with liberty to the petitioner to revive his prayer afresh after filing of the final complaint/charge-sheet as assured by the Solicitor General," the bench said.
Sisodia challenged the Delhi High Court's order of May 21 which rejected his bail plea in the liquor policy scam case, observing his conduct amounted to "great betrayal of democratic principles".
This was the second bail plea moved by the AAP leader Sisodia, who has been in custody since February 26, 2023, after arrest by the CBI. He was also arrested by the ED on March 9, 2023.
The Enforcement Directorate also filed a complaint against the AAP and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal calling him kingpin and the main conspirator.
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