The Supreme Court of India has granted bail to all accused in the Delhi excise policy case, including prominent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh. This significant development marks a turning point in the high-profile case, which has been under scrutiny for its alleged irregularities and corruption.
The latest to secure bail is Amandeep Singh Dhall, a businessman and director of Brindco Sales Private Limited, who was arrested in March 2023. The Supreme Court on October 25th upheld the Delhi High Court’s decision to grant him bail, acknowledging the lengthy trial process and the fact that Dhall had been in custody for nearly 1.5 years. The court reasoned that his continued detention would not serve any purpose, given the substantial number of witnesses (around 300) that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) intends to examine.
The Delhi Excise Policy case has been a major point of contention, with allegations of corruption and procedural irregularities surrounding the implementation of the policy by the then Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government. The policy was ultimately scrapped in August 2022, and investigations ensued. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested 18 individuals in connection with the case, all of whom have now been granted bail – either regular or interim.
The case has seen a series of high-profile bail orders from the Supreme Court, beginning with Arvind Kejriwal, the former Delhi Chief Minister, who was granted bail on September 13th. Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, followed suit on August 9th, after spending 17 months in detention. K Kavitha, a member of the Legislative Council for Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, was granted bail on August 27th after spending five months in prison. Sanjay Singh, an AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member, also secured bail in April 2024.
The Supreme Court’s decision to grant bail to all accused in the Delhi excise policy case, including prominent AAP leaders, is significant. It highlights the court’s recognition of the protracted nature of the trial, the potential for lengthy detention, and the need to ensure fairness and due process. With the case proceeding towards trial, the spotlight now shifts to the evidence presented and the potential implications for those involved. This development is likely to have a major impact on the political landscape of Delhi and beyond.