The Supreme Court has granted bail to a senior executive of Pernod Ricard India, a subsidiary of one of the world’s largest alcoholic beverages company, in connection with the Enforcement Directorate’s case about the Delhi liquor policy scam.

In granting Benoy Babu, the Regional General Manager, bail, the top court made a sharp remark, “You can’t keep people behind bars, before a trial, for long (periods of time). This is not proper…”

“… We still don’t know how this will go. There seems to be contradiction between what the Central Bureau of Investigation is alleging and what the ED is alleging,” Justice Sanjiv Khanna observed.

The bench, which also included Justice SVN Bhatt, directed bail for Mr Babu after noting he had already been in prison for 13 months and based on factual circumstances raised in his application.

Several people have been arrested in connection with this case, which has triggered a massive political row between the ruling BJP and the opposition, particularly the Aam Aadmi Party that is in power in Delhi. Two senior AAP members, including ex-Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh have been arrested in connection with this case.

Mr Sisodia has been in jail since February and Mr Singh since October.

Congress, Trinamool have asked for time to study the ethics report on Mahua Moitra before discussion in Lok Sabha. The report was tabled in the Lok Sabha today amid uproar from the Opposition MPs who questioned the procedure followed by the ethics panel committee and are demanding a discussion.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra is accused of taking bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions critical to the Narendra Modi government in the Parliament.

The ethics report recommends the expulsion of Ms Moitra from the Lok Sabha over the “cash-for-query” allegation. Six members of the panel, including suspended Congress member Preneet Kaur, voted in favour of the report. Four members of the panel belonging to opposition parties submitted dissent notes.

Ms Moitra can be expelled only if the House votes in favour of the panel’s recommendation.

The motion to expel Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha saw a heated discussion on a central question – can the Trinamool MP, who is accused of taking bribes, including Rs 2 crore in cash, from businessman Darshan Hiranandani – respond directly to charges brought against her.

Calls for Ms Moitra to be allowed to speak in Parliament – raised as the fundamental right of an accused to defend themselves against any allegation – were led by MPs from her party, beginning with Sudip Bandyopadhyay. “What I propose – my party’s spokesperson will be Mahua Moitra herself because (the) allegation is against her,” Mr Bandyopadhyay said.

“Wild allegations have been raised. Whether it is true or wrong, let it be spoken by her…”