Excise policy case: Delhi court reserves order on Sisodia's bail plea amidst pending curative petition

A Delhi court has reserved its decision on the regular bail plea of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, considering his pending curative petition before the Supreme Court. Special Judge M K Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court reserved the order for February 21, following arguments from both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Sisodia’s legal counsel. The judge also extended the judicial custody of AAP MPs Sanjay Singh and Sisodia until March 2.

The ED contended that Sisodia’s regular bail application should not be entertained while his curative petition is pending before the apex court. Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain argued that seeking relief simultaneously from two forums is impermissible under legal discipline, urging the trial court to await the disposal of the curative petition. In response, senior advocate Mohit Mathur, representing Sisodia, questioned the rationale behind withholding the bail plea until the curative petition’s outcome. He cited precedents from the coal scam cases where trial proceedings continued despite pending special leave petitions in the Supreme Court.

The court had recently granted three-day interim bail to former Sisodia to attend his niece’s wedding. The alleged excise policy scam is being probed by both the enforcement agencies — the Enforcement Directorate and CBI.

The decision on whether to entertain former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s regular bail plea, considering his pending curative petition before the Supreme Court, has been reserved by a Delhi court. Special Judge M K Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court reserved the order for February 21, following arguments from both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Sisodia’s legal counsel. The judge also extended the judicial custody of AAP MPs Sanjay Singh and Sisodia until March 2. The ED contended that Sisodia’s regular bail application should not be entertained while his curative petition is pending before the apex court. Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain argued that seeking relief simultaneously from two forums is impermissible under legal discipline, urging the trial court to await the disposal of the curative petition. In response, senior advocate Mohit Mathur, representing Sisodia, questioned the rationale behind withholding the bail plea until the curative petition’s outcome. He cited precedents from the coal scam cases where trial proceedings continued despite pending special leave petitions in the Supreme Court. The alleged excise policy scam is being probed by both the enforcement agencies — the Enforcement Directorate and CBI.