Sanjay Kumar, a Supreme Court judge, recused himself on Thursday from hearing AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia‘s bail petitions, which sought to be resurrected in the liquor policy fraud.
Sisodia is seeking bail in proceedings filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the liquor policy scam.
‘Our brother has some difficulty, will not like to hear the matter for personal reasons,’ says Justice Khanna
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Sanjay Karol, and Sanjay Kumar stated that another court, without Justice Kumar, will hear Sisodia’s two separate bail petitions in cases filed by central agencies.
“Our brother has some difficulties. He will not like to hear this matter for personal reasons,” Justice Khanna stated as the session began today.
Also read: Arvind Kejriwal sent to judicial custody till July 12 on CBI’s plea
Another bench to take up the matter on July 15
Manish Sisodia’s lawyer, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, asked the bench to expedite the proceedings, claiming that time is of the essence because the trial in both cases has yet to commence.
On June 4, the Supreme Court denied Manish Sisodia’s bail requests in cases filed by the CBI and the ED. He had already petitioned the Supreme Court, appealing the Delhi High Court’s May 21 decision that refused his bail applications in the instances investigated by the two central agencies.
Also read: Arvind Kejriwal’s bail put on hold by Delhi High Court
The AAP leader had appealed in the High Court a trial court’s April 30 ruling dismissing his bail pleas in cases involving alleged irregularities in the creation and implementation of the now-defunct Delhi liquor policy.
On October 30, 2023, the Supreme Court denied Manish Sisodia bail in the liquor policy scandal corruption and money laundering proceedings, stating that the allegations of “windfall gains” of Rs 338 crore to wholesale booze dealers were “tentatively supported” by evidence.
Sisodia was arrested by CBI on Feb 26, 2023
Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, for his alleged involvement in the liquor policy case. On March 9, 2023, the ED arrested him in connection with a money laundering case based on the CBI First Information Report (FIR).
He resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on February 28, 2023.
