Supreme Court: In a special leave to appeal against Delhi High Court’s decision in Manish Sisodia v. Enforcement Directorate, 2024 SCC OnLine Del 3731, whereby former Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia was denied bail in the money laundering and corruption cases related to the Delhi liquor Excise policy scam, the Vacation Division Bench of Aravind Kumar and Sandeep Mehta, JJ. considering that the charge sheet and complaint would be filed by ED/ CBI within 4 weeks, the Court granted liberty to Sisodia to revive his prayer afresh after filing of the final complaint/Charge sheet. The Court also clarified that when such afresh application will be filed, the same would be considered on its own merits.
The matter at hand was moved by Sisodia after the Court had granted him the permission to move fresh application for bail in case the trial was protracted and proceeded at a snail’s pace in next three months from the date of order i.e., 30-10-2023. The said liberty was given by the Court on assurance by the prosecution to conclude trial within 6-8 months. The Trial Court and High Court had dismissed his bail application hence, he approached the Court in the present appeal.
The Court took note of Solicitor General’s submission that the investigation would be concluded and final complaint/charge sheet would be filed expeditiously and at any rate on or before 03-07-2024 and immediately thereafter, the Trial Court will be free to proceed with trial. Considering the said submission and the period of “6-8 months” fixed by the Court by Order dated 30-10-2023 having not come to an end, the Court granted liberty to Sisodia to revive his prayer afresh after filing of the final complaint/Charge sheet.
[Manish Sisodia v. Directorate of Enforcement [ED], 2024 SCC OnLine SC 1498, Order Dated: 04-06-2024]
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