Manish Sisodia’s Judicial Custody Extended, Verdict on Bail Pleas Expected Today

Manish Sisodia, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former deputy chief minister of Delhi, remains in judicial custody until May 31 in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case. Sisodia has been under judicial custody since February 2023. His boss, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was also arrested in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the same liquor policy, currently out on interim bail until June 2.

The Delhi High Court is set to deliver its verdict on Sisodia’s bail pleas related to the money laundering and corruption cases lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), respectively. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma is expected to pronounce the orders on both bail pleas today at 5 pm, as per the cause list uploaded on the high court’s website.

Last week, the Delhi High Court reserved its order on Sisodia’s pleas after hearing arguments from the Aam Aadmi Party, CBI, and the Enforcement Directorate. The ED recently named AAP as an accused and filed a fresh charge sheet against Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case.

Both the ED and CBI have opposed releasing Sisodia on bail, alleging concerted efforts by the accused to delay the process of framing charges. They claim AAP leaders received kickbacks from businessmen and politicians in return for including favorable provisions in the excise policy. The ED alleges that a significant portion of the kickbacks funded AAP’s Goa assembly elections in 2022. AAP has denied all charges.