Money Laundering Case: Delhi Court to Decide on Manish Sisodia’s Bail Plea on April 30

Delhi Court Reserves Verdict on Manish Sisodia’s Bail Plea in Money Laundering Case

A Delhi Court on Saturday deferred its decision on the second regular bail plea submitted by Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, in connection with the money laundering and corruption cases related to the liquor policy. Sisodia is currently in judicial custody for both cases.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Courts postponed the ruling after hearing arguments from Advocate Vivek Jain representing Sisodia, Zoheb Hossain, special counsel for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and prosecutor Pankaj Gupta for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The verdict is scheduled to be delivered on April 30.

Sisodia had previously been denied bail by the trial court, Delhi High Court, and the Supreme Court in both ED and CBI cases.

The AAP leader had also filed interim bail pleas in both cases to campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, Jain informed the court that these pleas were now irrelevant since the regular bail plea was being reserved.

CBI prosecutor Pankaj Gupta opposed the bail plea, arguing that Sisodia does not meet the requirements for bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Gupta asserted that Sisodia, being a powerful figure with significant political influence, is not entitled to bail and does not deserve parity treatment.

Gupta further alleged that the accusations against the AAP leader suggest prima facie evidence of him tampering with evidence and abusing his power, which could impede the investigation.

He emphasized that economic offenses like these affect the entire community and referenced former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement likening corruption to cancer in society.

Gupta also expressed concerns that granting bail to Sisodia could lead to him influencing the ongoing investigation and witnesses, given that higher courts had also refused him relief, labeling him as the mastermind behind the case.

As Jain urged the court to expedite its decision, noting that the applications had been pending since February, the court assured that the order would be pronounced on April 30.

Sisodia’s review and curative petitions against the denial of bail have been dismissed by the Supreme Court.