“Travesty Of Justice”: Manish Sisodia Gets Bail, Supreme Court Slams Delay
Manish Sisodia Bail: In a striking verdict Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan said the AAP leader was entitled to a “speedy trial” and that it would it be a “travesty of justice to send him back to a trial court.
New Delhi:
Manish Sisodia was granted bail by the Supreme Court Friday morning – nearly 18 months after the ex-Delhi Deputy Chief Minister was arrested by the CBI in the alleged liquor policy case. In a powerful 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 pertaining to 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 in jailed for an “unlimited time”, without a trial, is in violation of his fundamental rights.
“Incarceration of 18 months… Trial not having even commenced and appellant has been deprived of right to speedy trial, ” Justice Gavai said as he asked tough questions of the lower courts.
“Keeping appellant behind bars for unlimited time will deny fundamental right. Appellant has deep roots in society… no apprehension of fleeing. Anyway… conditions can be imposed.”
“Bail Is The Rule, Jail An Exception”
“Trial court and High Court ought to have given due weightage to this. Courts have forgotten that bail ought not to be withheld as punishment. Principle bail is the rule and jail an exception…” the court said, acknowledging that the prolonged period of incarceration was untenable.
AAP, Raghav Chadha Reacts
दिल्ली शिक्षा क्रांति के नायक मनीष सिसोदिया जी को बेल मिलने से पूरे देश में आज ख़ुशी है। मैं माननीय सुप्रीम कोर्ट का हृदय की गहराई से आभार व्यक्त करता हूँ।
— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) August 9, 2024
मनीष जी को 530 दिन तक जेल की सलाख़ों के पीछे रखा गया। उनका जुर्म इतना था कि उन्होंने गरीबों के बच्चों को एक बेहतर भविष्य… pic.twitter.com/Mai1Zqi6XU
Mr Sisodia’s party has welcomed his release, calling it “victory of truth”.
Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, in a euphoric post on X (formerly Twitter), declared “the entire country is happy today as Manish Sisodia, hero of the Delhi education revolution, got bail.”
