HC denies bail to Sisodia in money laundering case

The Delhi high court on Monday rejected former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia's petition for bail in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, saying that saying that the allegations against him are "very serious in nature" and involve huge loss of public funds under a deep-rooted conspiracy.

- Richa Banka

The court of justice Dinesh Sharma also said that Sisodia did not meet the twin conditions for the grant of bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as well as the triple test for the grant of bail.

Section 45 of PMLA lays down twin conditions for the grant of bail to an accused that must be ascertained by the court in ruling on a bail petition. The two conditions are: reasonable grounds to believe that the accused is not guilty of such an offence; and the accused is not likely to commit any offence while on bail.

According to the triple test doctrine referred to by the high court, an accused may be granted bail if it is established that they are not a flight risk, will not influence witnesses, and will not tamper with the evidence.