After 17 months in custody, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia was released from Tihar Jail on Friday, following the Supreme Court’s decision to grant him bail in the corruption and money laundering cases tied to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. Donning a maroon shirt, Sisodia was greeted by party workers and leaders who showered him with rose petals as he exited the jail.
A large crowd of AAP leaders and supporters gathered outside Tihar Jail to welcome Sisodia, chanting slogans like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ as he waved to the crowd.
Addressing the media and supporters after his release, Sisodia expressed deep gratitude towards Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, saying, “Ever since this order came in the morning, every inch of my skin has been feeling indebted to Babasaheb. I don’t understand how I will pay off this debt to Babasaheb.” He also reflected on his time in jail, stating, “I was not alone in jail for the past 17 months, but every Delhiite and schoolchild of Delhi were with me emotionally. I want to thank the Supreme Court from the bottom of my heart. It used the power of the Constitution to slap the face of dictatorship.”
Sisodia described the moment as emotional for everyone and expressed hope that the power of the Constitution and democracy would also lead to the release of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is also in Tihar Jail in connection with the same case.
He thanked senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi for his legal assistance, which helped secure his release.
Senior AAP leaders, including Sanjay Singh, Atishi, and Saurabh Bharadwaj, were present outside Tihar to receive Sisodia.
The Supreme Court granted Sisodia regular bail in both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases on a personal bond of ₹10 lakh, with two sureties of the same amount. The court highlighted that Sisodia had been in custody since February 2023 and that the trial had not yet started, thus depriving him of his right to a speedy trial. The bench emphasized that denying him bail at this stage would be a travesty of justice, reaffirming the legal principle that “bail is a rule, and jail is an exception.
