AAP leader Manish Sisodia was released from Delhi’s Tihar Jail Friday evening – even as the dark clouds hovering over the national capital all day broke to shed much-needed rain – hours after the Supreme Court granted the ex-Deputy Chief Minister bail in the alleged liquor policy scam.
Mr Sisodia – who held multiple portfolios while a member of the Delhi government, including Education – was received by a large crowd of jubilant Aam Aadmi Party supporters.
Standing in the rain, a triumphant Manish Sisodia gave a short speech.
“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…”
After exiting Tihar Jail Mr Sisodia left for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. Like himself, the Chief Minister was arrested, in March, by both federal agencies in the liquor policy case. Mr Kejriwal has received bail in the case filed by the Enforcement Directorate but not the CBI.
Earlier today, in a series of powerful observations the Supreme Court called Manish Sisodia’s nearly 18-month incarceration a “travesty of justice” and asked tough questions of the trial court and the Delhi High Court for failing to consider the violation of his right to liberty by keeping him “behind bars for unlimited time”. Mr Sisodia was 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,” a bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan had said.
Mr Sisodia could not be made to run “from pillar to post” for bail, the court said.
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.”
“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 education of children in that time,” Sanjay Singh – who was also arrested, and later granted bail by the top court, in this case – said.
“Satyamev Jayate,” Delhi Education minister Atishi posted on X.
In releasing Mr Sisodia, the court also made critical observations on the federal agencies’, one example of which was Justice Gavai saying, “In this case 493 witnesses (were) named (and) there is not remotest possibility that Manish Sisodia’s trial will conclude in (the near) future.”
On the question of Mr Sisodia allegedly tampering with evidence, the court pointed out “most evidence is documentary” and that these documents were already with the probe agencies.
The court has, though, imposed certain conditions on Mr Sisodia, including demanding he surrender his passport and report to the Investigating Officer every Monday.
The court has also warned Mr Sisodia he will be returned to jail if there is tampering of evidence.
