Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: After 17 months in Tihar Jail, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia was released on Friday evening following the Supreme Court’s decision to grant him bail in the alleged liquor policy scam. The release came as a welcome respite for the former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, who was greeted by a large crowd of jubilant supporters despite the pouring rain over the national capital.
Manish Sisodia, who held key portfolios in the Delhi government, including Education, addressed his supporters briefly after his release. “Ever since this order came in the morning, every inch of my skin has been feeling indebted to Babasaheb (Ambedkar). I don’t understand how I will pay this debt to Babasaheb,” he expressed, standing in the rain, clearly moved by the court’s decision.
Upon his release, Sisodia headed to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. Both leaders were embroiled in the same liquor policy case, with Kejriwal also having faced arrest earlier this year. While Kejriwal has been granted bail by the Enforcement Directorate, he is still awaiting a decision from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court had delivered a scathing critique of the legal proceedings that led to Sisodia’s prolonged imprisonment. A bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan described his nearly 18-month incarceration as a “travesty of justice” and questioned both the trial court and the Delhi High Court for overlooking the violation of his right to liberty. Sisodia was initially arrested by the CBI in February 2023.
“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 bench emphasized, highlighting the undue delay in granting bail.
The AAP celebrated Sisodia’s release, framing it as a “victory of truth.” Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha took to X (formerly Twitter) to declare, “The entire country is happy today as Manish Sisodia, hero of the Delhi education revolution, got bail.” Echoing this sentiment, AAP leader Sanjay Singh criticized the government’s actions, stating, “This verdict is a slap on Centre’s dictatorship. He was in jail for 17 months. His life was destroyed in those months. He could have worked for the education of children in that time.”
Delhi Education Minister Atishi also expressed her relief with a simple “Satyamev Jayate” post on X.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court also raised concerns about the federal agencies’ handling of the case. Justice Gavai pointed out the impracticality of completing the trial in a timely manner, noting that “493 witnesses were named, and there is not the remotest possibility that Manish Sisodia’s trial will conclude in the near future.”
Regarding the allegations of evidence tampering, the court remarked that “most evidence is documentary” and that these documents were already in the possession of the investigating agencies.
Despite his release, Sisodia has been subjected to several conditions, including the surrender of his passport and a requirement to report to the Investigating Officer every Monday. The court has also warned that any tampering with evidence will result in Sisodia’s immediate return to jail.
