The Supreme Court granted bail to AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia on Friday, triggering a wave of political reactions across the spectrum. Sisodia had been detained for 17 months on charges related to criminal conspiracy and alleged irregularities in Delhi’s now-scrapped excise policy. The decision to release him on bail is being hailed by many as a “triumph for democracy” and a reflection of the justice system’s perseverance.
Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj celebrated the court’s decision, calling it a monumental day for Indian democracy. “This is a Big day for Indian democracy…No crime was proven, you kept him in jail for 17 months without proving it. Can the central government return Manish Sisodia’s 17 months to his family?” Bharadwaj said.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore also welcomed the decision, extending his congratulations to Sisodia while sharply criticising the BJP for allegedly weaponising the central investigation agencies. “We all know that ED has been misused by BJP for a long time. They are using it as a political tool to silence the opposition. Manish Sisodia’s release has shown that the legal system has taken a long time to give justice to him,” said Tagore.
AAP MP Swati Maliwal also expressed optimism for Sisodia’s return to an active role in the Delhi government, reinforcing the belief that his release would rejuvenate the party’s leadership.
However, not all reactions were celebratory. BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam cautioned against viewing the bail as an exoneration, reminding that the investigation into the alleged excise policy scam remains ongoing. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said, “This year only, his bail plea has been rejected seven times. Today, his advocates haven’t pleaded based on merits, their pleas were based on delay…He is still an accused, and his answerability is in the court of law, for betraying the people of Delhi.” Swaraj added, “Manish Sisodia was such an Education Minister of Delhi who is a sinner and who committed the sin of pushing the children of Delhi from ‘paathshala to madhushala’.”
Political leaders from other parties also weighed in. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren both congratulated Sisodia, with Soren describing the Supreme Court’s verdict as a “triumph for democracy” and a “defeat of dictatorship and injustice”.
Here’s the timeline of developments in the matter:
– February 26, 2023: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrests Sisodia for his alleged role in the Delhi excise policy “scam”.
– March 9: Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrests Sisodia in a money-laundering case stemming from the CBI’s FIR.
– March 31: Trial court rejects Sisodia’s bail plea in the CBI’s corruption case.
– April 28: Trial court dismisses Sisodia’s bail plea in the money-laundering case.
– May 30: Delhi HC rejects Sisodia’s bail plea in the CBI case.
– July 3: HC junks Sisodia’s bail plea in the money-laundering case.
– July 6: Sisodia files bail pleas in both the cases in SC.
– October 30: SC denies relief to Sisodia.
– April 30, 2024: Trial court again refuses to grant bail to Sisodia.
– May 2: Sisodia moves HC seeking bail in both corruption and money laundering cases.
– May 21: HC denies bail to Sisodia.
– July 16: SC agrees to hear Sisodia’s pleas seeking bail, seeks responses from the CBI and the ED.
– Aug 6: SC reserves verdict on Sisodia’s bail pleas in both cases.
– Aug 9: SC grants bail to Sisodia
(With inputs from agencies)