The one thing which former Delhi deputy chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader apparently missed most all these past 17 months in jail in connection with the Delhi Liquor Policy case was a ‘bed tea’, the hot morning cuppa in the cozy comfort of the bed, at home in the company of his wife Seema.
Sisodia, who was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday in both the CBI and ED cases, posted a selfie of smiling himself and his wife, cups of tea in hand, on his personal ‘X’ handle on Saturday with a strong apparently politically coloured message in Hindi:
“Aazadi ki subah ki pehli chaye … 17 mahine baad!
“Veh aazadi jo samvidhan ne humm sab bharatiyon ko jeene ke adhikaar ki guarantee ki roop mein dee hai.
“Veh aazadi jo eeshvar nein hamein sabke saath khuli hava nein saans lene ke liye dee hai.”
(“First morning tea of freedom…. after 17 months!
“That freedom which the Constitution has granted us all Indians in the form of guarantee of our right to live.
“That freedom granted to us by God which allows all of us to breath freely.”)
The primary premise of the Supreme Court bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, which had reserved the judgment on August 6, in granting bail to Sisodia is the delay in commencement of the trial in the case.
The bail granted to Sisodia is expected to have a strong bearing on the dozens of similar cases, wherein various premier government investigating agencies are holding the accused in jail for long periods of time pending trial, especially in cases where political witch-hunting by the government is alleged.
“We find that on account of long incarceration running around 17 months and trial having not been commenced, the appellant has been deprived of the right to speedy trial…,” the Court noted in its order on Sisodia’s bail plea, and added that there did not appear to the remotest possibility of the trial being completed in the near future considering that 495 witnesses and thousands of documents are to be examined.
Under the circumstances, to keep the accused in custody for an unlimited period would result in a grave violation of the fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21, the judges observed.
The bench also rejected Additional Solicitor General SV Raju request to impose certain conditions on Sisodia akin to those imposed in the Arvin Kejriwal case, like he should not visit the Chief Minister’s office or the Delhi Secretariat.
However, the Court asked the former Delhi deputy CM to furnish bail bonds for a sum of Rs.10 lakhs with two sureties of the like sum and to surrender his passport. He will also be required to report to the investigating officer every Monday and Thursday.
Sisodia is an accused in two separate cases – one registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the other registered by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
He was arrested in 2023, first by CBI on February 26 and later by ED on March 9.
The profile picture on Vinesh’s personal X account still carries a graphic representative of the agitation with a slogan reading ‘CHAMPIONS IN TEARS’ …. ‘I STAND WITH WRESTLERS’ on the lines of the ‘No Farmers No Food’ slogan coined by the agitating farmers and their supporters to oppose the contentious farm laws, which were later repealed.
The Abbotts are also quite liberal regarding the minimum number of guests for party bookings. While the first-floor birthday party space has seating for up to 30-35 guests, parties with lesser guests are also accommodated. There are no booking charges.
The wide-ranging menu at the restaurant is split into sections, which includes a wide variety of cold beverages and coffees (Chocolaty and Caramelly Frappes stand out), ‘slush’ – the juicy and icy fruit drinks and American thick shakes (Ferrero Blast and Brownie Blast are among the favourites).
In French Fries, it serves masala fries, cheesy fries, and newly added Twister Fries and Cheesy Twister Fries, which are just awesome.
With access to more destinations becoming faster and easier, thanks to be massive expansions happening in highways, railways and airport infrastructure across the country, travel and tourism has become a 24×7 activity all 365 days a year; And, cashing in on this trend, the luggage industry, dominated largely by VIP, Samsonite and Safari in the organised sector in India, is growing rapidly.
In a media preview of Thursday, a day after the monthlong paid show begins (on August 2), LifeInChandigarh.com was given a feel of the immersive experience that has turned the walls and floors of a temporary exhibition space, erected in the courtyard of the most happening mall of the region, into a kind of technicolour van Gogh dream world.
In bringing this immersive experience to a smaller town like Chandigarh, after sellout shows in Chennai and Hyderabad, Nikhil has collaborated with The Silly Fellows. “This isn’t just about art; it’s a bold move to redefine cultural experiences in our own backyard, giving every doorstep a front-row seat to the avant-garde of today’s creative narrative,” shares The Silly Fellow’s co-founder Sharan John.
Considered to be one of the most influential figures in the history of Western art, Dutch Post-Impressionist master Vincent van Gogh is also a popular choice for modern, immersive exhibitions.
According to the organisers, the content for this captivating showcase was meticulously crafted over a span of nine months, ensuring a rich and engaging experience for visitors. The 60-minute journey through the exhibition unfolds across four carefully curated spaces, each designed to offer a distinct facet of the artist’s work.
In the three-day festival, branded FIESTA 2024, which was kickstarted by school principal Ms Renu Puri on Wednesday, students will participate in competitions, wherein they will present and explain concepts in various subjects like English, History, Science, Business, etc in simple to understand dramatic and innovative ways in exhibitions and on stage.
On the remaining two days, among other activities, there will be speaking skill opportunities for students with English debate, Persuasive Speaking and Dramatic Interpretation competitions, along with the heated display of wits at the proceedings of a MOOT Court competition.
Principal Ms. Renu Puri says, “The event will be an extraordinary display of creativity, knowledge and enthusiasm, including various competitions designed to engage and inspire students.”
