Delhi Excise policy | Court denies bail to Manish Sisodia in CBI case

Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is presently in judicial custody and scheduled to be produced before the court on April 3, in a CBI case related to the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy scam.

The Rouse Avenue Court on March 31 dismissed the bail plea of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the Excise policy of the Union Territory Government.

Special Judge M.K. Nagpal dismissed the bail plea moved by Manish Sisodia. He is presently in judicial custody and scheduled to be produced before the court on April 3, 2023. The court last week reserved the order on the bail plea after the counsel representing the CBI submitted brief written submissions and judgements concerned, as directed by the court on the last date of the hearing.

The CBI also submitted case dairy detail and several statements of witnesses in the matter.

Mr. Sisodia, in his bail petition in a trial court, stated that no fruitful purpose would be served to keep him in custody as all the recoveries in the case have already been made.

Mr. Sisodia also stated that he joined the investigation as and when called for by the CBI. The other accused persons arrested in this case have already been granted bail, Mr. Sisodia noted, further adding that he held the important constitutional post of deputy CM of Delhi and has deep roots in the society.

However, Mr. Sisodia later tendered his resignation as deputy CM in light of his arrest in the liquor policy case.

The CBI, represented by advocate D.P. Singh, opposed Mr. Sisodia's bail plea, stating, "If he is granted bail this will scuttle and compromise our investigation as the influence and interference are writ large," CBI said. The agency further claimed that Mr. Sisodia said he destroyed phones because he wanted to upgrade but nothing of the kind happened.