Manish Sisodia interim bail: Delhi court issues notice to ED, CBI

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Friday issued a notice to Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of India (CBI) following Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia's request for interim bail to campaign in general elections.

Rouse Avenue Court's special judge Kaveri Baweja instructed the central probe agencies to respond by April 20, when the court will review the plea.

CBI and ED have alleged irregularities in the modification of Delhi's excise policy, including undue favors to license holders, waivers of license fees, and extensions without proper approval. The accused officials are said to have diverted illegal gains to themselves and falsified accounts to avoid detection.

Sisodia was arrested by CBI on February 26 and ED on March 9 last year in connection with these allegations. He resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.

Earlier, while opposing the regular bail plea of Sisodia, ED said that there was no delay on the part of the prosecution, rather, the delay was caused by the accused persons by filing frivolous applications in the excise policy case, extending his judicial custody till April 18.

However, Sisodia's counsel cited in his bail plea a delay in trial. It was argued that trial proceedings are going at a snail's pace.