Top court judge recuses from hearing Manish Sisodia's bail plea

New Delhi: In the matter of Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia's bail plea in an alleged liquor policy scam case, Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kumar recused it on Thursday, IANS reported.

At the outset, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, leading a three-judge Bench, informed senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia, about Justice Kumar's recusal.

"Dr Singhvi, my brother Justice Kumar will not like to hear this matter for personal reasons," said Justice Khanna.

Ultimately, the matter was directed to be listed in the week commencing July 15 before a different Bench after obtaining the directions of the Chief Justice of India (CJI), who is the master of the roster.

On Monday, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia's counsel requested CJI DY Chandrachud to urgently list his pleas seeking bail.

He submitted that the top court had granted liberty to the senior AAP leader to revive his Special Leave Petitions challenging the denial of bail.

Last month, the Supreme Court had disposed of the former Deputy CM's plea seeking bail in corruption and money laundering cases after Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, the second-highest law officer of the Centre, made an undertaking that the final charge sheet/complaint in the liquor policy case would be filed by July 3.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had denied bail to the senior AAP leader, saying that he failed to pass the triple test for grant of bail in the corruption case and the twin conditions required under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

A Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the High Court, however, clarified that he could continue to meet his ailing wife every week on the same terms as set earlier by the trial court.

In March, the Supreme Court dismissed the curative petitions filed by Manish Sisodia against the dismissal of his review pleas against its 2023 verdict denying him bail in connection with the liquor policy case.