In a high-profile case, the Supreme Court has scheduled a crucial hearing for July 14 on the bail plea filed by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, in connection with the infamous Delhi Excise Scam case. The senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, who stands accused in the excise policy scam, has been battling charges of corruption and impropriety.

The matter was brought before Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, by Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who sought urgent listing of the case, citing Sisodia's wife's illness as a compelling factor. Recognizing the urgency, the Chief Justice directed the hearing to take place on July 14.

Sisodia's arrest and subsequent denial of bail have raised eyebrows, with his legal team challenging the Delhi High Court's decision. The High Court, on July 3, rejected Sisodia's bail plea in the case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Earlier, the same court had also denied him bail in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case related to the scandalous excise scam.

The allegations revolve around the connivance of Delhi government officials in granting liquor licenses to specific traders in exchange for bribes. The prosecution contends that the excise policy was manipulated, leading to financial gains for certain traders and kickbacks for those involved.

The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate launched investigations into the scandal after a report by the Delhi Chief Secretary, based on a recommendation by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, exposed the irregularities. Although Sisodia was initially not named in the CBI's chargesheet, he was later included as an accused in the case.

Sisodia maintains that the policy and its amendments were approved by the Lieutenant Governor, and he questions the CBI's targeting of decisions made by an elected government. Furthermore, he asserts that no incriminating evidence linking him to the corruption allegations has been discovered, suggesting that the agencies are reevaluating a liquor policy formulated and approved by Delhi's elected government.

In the Delhi High Court's order denying bail to Sisodia in the ED case, Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma emphasized the gravity of the allegations and the magnitude of the public funds involved. The court described the excise policy case as unique and peculiar, as it accuses the Deputy Chief Minister of framing a policy on behalf of external beneficiaries.

With Sisodia's bail plea now set to be heard in the Supreme Court, the fate of the Aam Aadmi Party's prominent leader hangs in the balance. The ongoing legal battle surrounding this high-stakes corruption case has captured significant attention and continues to reverberate through political circles, further intensifying the spotlight on AAP's top brass.