The Delhi High Court has dismissed the plea for interim bail by former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy. The court deemed the charges against Sisodia to be “extremely serious.” However, the court granted him permission to meet his ailing wife either at home or in the hospital. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma specified that Sisodia could be taken out of jail between 10 am and 5 pm on any day convenient to his wife, ensuring no interaction with reporters. The judge also directed authorities to restrict Sisodia’s interactions to only his family, prohibiting phone and internet usage.
Justice Sharma acknowledged Sisodia’s previous position as the city’s deputy chief minister and emphasized the gravity of the allegations as grounds for denying interim bail. The court ordered Lok Nayak Jaiprakash (LNJP) Hospital to provide a report on the health of Sisodia’s wife, Seema Sisodia. Based on the medical report, which stated that Seema Sisodia’s condition was stable, the court suggested her examination by a medical board from the All India Institute for Medical Sciences for further treatment.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed the plea, asserting that Seema Sisodia’s condition had remained unchanged for the past 20 years. The ED argued that there was a possibility of evidence tampering, citing the alleged removal of documents from the office of the special secretary vigilance after a Supreme Court ruling on the services department. Sisodia’s counsel argued that he was the sole caretaker for his wife, countering the ED’s claim that his workload prevented him from fulfilling that role.
Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26 and subsequently taken into custody by the ED on March 9. The court granted the ED seven days of custody, which was later extended by five days, before Sisodia was sent back to Tihar Jail on March 22.
