The Supreme Court has taken up AAP leader Manish Sisodia's petitions seeking bail in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal saga. Sisodia, who has been in custody since February 2023, faces charges related to his alleged involvement in the liquor policy controversy.

A bench led by Justice B R Gavai issued notices to both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), soliciting their responses to Sisodia's bail applications. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 29, setting the stage for crucial deliberations on the matter.

Sisodia's arrest by the CBI on February 26, 2023, followed an investigation into the now-defunct Delhi liquor policy, which allegedly involved irregularities and financial misconduct. Subsequently, in March 2023, the ED also arrested him in connection with a money laundering case linked to the initial FIR filed by the CBI.

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As a prominent figure in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi under Arvind Kejriwal's leadership, Sisodia resigned from his official posts shortly after his arrest, signaling the gravity of the allegations against him.

The case has unfolded amidst accusations that AAP leaders, including Sisodia and his colleagues, accepted substantial kickbacks from liquor businessmen in exchange for favorable treatment in licensing matters, amounting to ?100 crore. Additionally, the agencies allege that ?45 crore was funneled through illicit channels for AAP's election campaign in Goa in 2022.

Sisodia's legal team, comprising senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and advocate Vivek Jain, has raised concerns over the sluggish pace of the trial, highlighting delays that they argue hinder the timely dispensation of justice.

Notably, Sisodia's colleague in AAP, Sanjay Singh, had secured bail earlier this year in the same case. Meanwhile, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, also embroiled in the controversy, recently obtained interim bail in the ED's money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy, yet remains in custody due to separate charges filed by the CBI last month.

The Supreme Court's forthcoming proceedings are poised to offer critical insights into the legal intricacies surrounding Sisodia's bail plea, with implications that extend beyond individual culpability to broader questions of governance and accountability in Delhi's political landscape.