Supreme Court Grants Bail to Manish Sisodia, Emphasizes Right to Speedy Trial
In a significant ruling, Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan of the Supreme Court delivered a verdict stating that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was entitled to a “speedy trial.” The justices emphasized that it would be a “travesty of justice” to send the leader back to a trial court, underscoring the importance of a swift and fair judicial process.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday morning, 18 months after his arrest by the CBI in the alleged liquor policy case. In a striking verdict, Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan emphasized Sisodia’s right to a “speedy trial” and noted that sending him back to the trial court would be a “travesty of justice.” The court also asserted that keeping Sisodia in jail for an “unlimited time” violates his fundamental rights.
Justice Gavai remarked, “Eighteen months of incarceration… Trial not having even commenced and the appellant has been deprived of the right to a speedy trial.” He criticized the lower courts, stating that “the trial court and High Court ought to have given due weightage to this. Courts have forgotten that bail ought not to be withheld as punishment. The principle is that bail is the rule and jail an exception.”
The court further noted, “Keeping the appellant behind bars for an unlimited time will deny his fundamental rights. The appellant has deep roots in society, and there is no apprehension of him fleeing. Conditions can be imposed if necessary.”
The Supreme Court also made several critical observations regarding federal agencies’ handling of the case, with Justice Gavai highlighting, “In this case, 493 witnesses have been named, and there is not the remotest possibility that Manish Sisodia’s trial will conclude in the near future.”
