Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday morning, marking 18 months since his initial arrest by the CBI in connection with the alleged liquor policy case. In a significant ruling, Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan emphasized that the Aam Aadmi Party leader has a right to a “speedy trial” and that it would be a “travesty of justice” to send him back to a trial court.

“Incarceration of 18 months… The trial has not even commenced, and the appellant has been deprived of the right to a speedy trial. The trial court and High Court ought to have given due weightage to this,” Justice Gavai remarked during the hearing.