The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear today (August 5) pleas filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia, seeking bail in corruption and money-laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The pleas will be heard by Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan. Sisodia had earlier moved the apex court, asking it to overturn the Delhi High Court's May 21 order dismissing his bail requests.

Earlier on July 29, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appeared for the ED and CBI and told the bench that while the CBI had filed its response on Sisodia's plea, it had not come on record. On Sisodia’s pleas, Raju had raised preliminary objections and said it was the second special leave petition challenging the same Delhi High Court order. "The same order can't be challenged twice," ASG Raju was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. 

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Raju referred to the June 4 ruling of the Supreme Court during the hearing, rejecting Sisodia's requests for bail in the CBI and ED cases. However, the apex court stated that the AAP leader could revive his petitions for bail after the federal probe agencies filed their final prosecution complaint and charge sheet, respectively, in the cases involving alleged corruption and money laundering.

"In light of the said submissions made and having regard to the fact that the period of 'six to eight' months' fixed by this court by order dated October 30, 2023, having not come to an end, it would suffice to dispose of these petitions with liberty to the petitioner to revive his prayer afresh after the filing of the final complaint/charge sheet, as assured by the solicitor general," the bench said.

Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, over his alleged role in the liquor policy case. He was later arrested by the ED in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped policy on March 9, 2023. Following this, he resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on February 28, 2023.