BREAKING: SC Grants Bail to Ex-AAP Office-Bearer Vijay Nair in Delhi Liquor Policy Case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) office-bearer and businessman Vijay Nair in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy case.

AAP's ex-communication incharge, Nair spent around 23 months behind bars. While delivering judgement, the court cited prolonged incarceration and delays in the trial as key reasons for the relief.

"The right of liberty under Article 21 is a sacrosanct right which requires to be respected even in cases where stringent provisions are enacted under special laws," the apex court said in its order. 

The court observed that Nair’s continued detention as an undertrial could not be justified without the trial having commenced, highlighting the principle that “bail is the rule and jail is the exception.” 

The ruling follows similar decisions by SC in granting bail to other high-profile accused in the case, including former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and BRS leader K Kavitha.

The case against Nair stems from a CBI FIR filed after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommended a probe into now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. The excise policy was introduced in 2021. Nair, along with liquor businessman Sameer Mahendru, is accused of conspiring with others in the alleged scam.

The other accused in the case include Manish Sisodia, former excise commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna, ex-deputy commissioner in the excise department Anand Tiwari, and former assistant commissioner Pankaj Bhatnagar.

In July last year, the Delhi High Court refused to grant bail to Nair. Thereafter, he had approached the Supreme Court.