After 18 months of jail…
On Friday, 09 August 2024, Manish Sisodia was granted bail by the Supreme Court (SC) nearly 18 months after the CBI arrested him in the alleged liquor policy case.
In a verdict, the court said he is entitled to a "speedy trial" and that a rejection now would force him to work his way back up the system. "It would be like making him play snakes and ladders," the top court said.
"In a matter about the life and liberty of a citizen - which is one of the most sacrosanct rights guaranteed by the Constitution - a citizen cannot be made to run from pillar to post," the court said.
Mr Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, and by the Enforcement Directorate less than two weeks later. He has now been granted bail in both cases, with an irate Supreme Court stating he cannot stay in jail indefinitely while the prosecution works to an unconfirmed trial date.
A bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan also said keeping the Aam Aadmi Party leader jailed for an "unlimited time", without a trial, violates his fundamental rights.
"Incarceration of 18 months... Trial not having even commenced and the appellant has been deprived of the right to speedy trial, " Justice Gavai said.
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