New Delhi:

Manish Sisodia, former deputy chief minister of Delhi, has been granted bail in alleged corruption cases related to Delhi's liquor policy. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader will walk out of jail 17 months after his arrest.

Here are the most important quotes from the Supreme Court ruling:

• “A citizen cannot be forced to run from pillar to post. It would be a travesty of justice to refer the appellant to the court of first instance.”
• “Procedures cannot be made the mistress of justice.”
• “The right to a speedy trial is an inalienable right… Bail cannot be refused on the grounds that the crime is serious. In the matter of freedom, every day counts.”
• “The Supreme Court and the Court of First Instance err on the side of caution when it comes to bail… bail is the rule, prison the exception.”
• “Keeping him behind bars until the end of the trial would be nothing less than a violation of Article 21.”
• “The freedom granted by this Court on June 4 must be interpreted as the resumption of prayer before this Court.”
• “We are aware of judgments which state that release on bail is possible in cases of long prison sentences.”
• “Sending the appellant back to court would be like playing snakes and ladders with him.”
• “The Court of First Instance and the High Court have already issued an opinion and in our view it would be an empty formality to refer the appellant again to the Court of First Instance and the High Court. In a matter involving the life and liberty of a citizen, which is one of the most sacred rights guaranteed by the Constitution, a citizen cannot be compelled to run from pillar to post.”

Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023 for alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now repealed Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him in the money laundering case, which emerged from the CBI report dated March 9, 2023.

He resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on February 28, 2023.

Mr Sisodia had sought bail, arguing that he had already been in custody for 17 months and the trial against him had not yet begun.

The ED and the CBI had opposed his bail applications.