Nation

New Delhi (July 03,2023) : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant bail to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case related to the alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy. A single-judge bench of Justice Yogesh Khanna dismissed Sisodia's bail plea, saying that the allegations against him were serious and that there was a possibility that he could tamper with evidence. The court also said that Sisodia was a public figure and that his release on bail could have an adverse impact on the investigation.

Sisodia was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on May 30, 2022, in connection with the case. The ED had alleged that Sisodia had received kickbacks from liquor contractors in lieu of awarding them contracts under the new excise policy. Sisodia has denied the allegations and has said that he is being framed by the BJP government at the Centre. The ED has filed a charge sheet against Sisodia in the case. The charge sheet has been challenged by Sisodia in the Delhi High Court. The court is yet to decide on the challenge to the charge sheet.

The Delhi High Court's decision to refuse bail to Manish Sisodia is a setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader. The decision is likely to be seen as a sign that the court is not convinced by Sisodia's claims of innocence. The decision is also likely to have a political impact. The AAP is likely to accuse the BJP government of targeting Sisodia because of his political affiliation. The case against Sisodia is still at a preliminary stage. It is possible that he may be granted bail at a later stage. However, the decision by the Delhi High Court to refuse bail is a significant development in the case.