Supreme Court today granted bail to Manish Sisodia, the Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and education minister after 18 months since he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged money laundering case in connection with the state’s liquor policy. He was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, and then by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) later.

The top court granted bail in both cases registered by each central agencies for the Aam Aadmy Party (AAP) leader, stating that Sisodia cannot be detained indefinitely while the prosecution works to a trial date. Taking to X, the AAP leader’s official handle wrote, “Manish Sisodia ji has got bail from the Supreme Court. Delhi’s popular education minister is about to come out of the dictator’s prison. Many congratulations to the people of Delhi! Satyamev Jayate!”

Read Also: Bail Can’t Be Withheld As Punishment: Supreme Court Tells Lower Courts

मनीष सिसोदिया जी को सुप्रीम कोर्ट से जमानत मिल गई है।

दिल्ली के लोकप्रिय शिक्षा मंत्री तानाशाह की जेल से बाहर आने वाले हैं। दिल्ली के लोगों को बहुत बहुत बधाई!

सत्यमेव जयते!

– Team Manish Sisodia pic.twitter.com/DLVr9o55bM

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) August 9, 2024

Asserting that the AAP leader is entitled to a speed trial, Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan said sending the accused back to a trial court would be similar to making him play snake and ladders game, noting that putting him behind the bar for an indefinite time without a trial violates the fundamental rights.

The judge also expressed his disillusionment over an extended period of incarceration saying, “incarceration of 18 months… Trial not having even commenced and the appellant has been deprived of the right to speedy trial.”

Read Also: Supreme Court Grants Interim Bail To Arvind Kejriwal

Notably, Delhi chief minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has been staying in jail since he was arrested by the ED on March 21 in the alleged liquors policy case. Though the 55-year-old was given an interim bail during the Lok Sabha election period, there has been no relief since then for him from the judicial custody.

A Delhi court recently extended the judicial custody of Kejriwal till August 20 in the case.