Excise policy case | Delhi HC seeks CBI's response to bail plea of Manish Sisodia
The Hindu
The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the CBI’s response to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s bail plea in the excise policy scam case being probed by the CBI.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the CBI's response to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's bail plea in the excise policy scam case being probed by the CBI.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued a notice on the senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader's plea, which claimed he is "totally innocent" and a "victim of political witch-hunt", and asked the agency to state its stand.
"Issue notice. Let reply be filed," the judge said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrested Mr. Sisodia for alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 on February 26 following several rounds of questioning.
On March 31, a trial court here had dismissed Mr. Sisodia's bail plea in the matter, saying he was "prima facie the architect" and had played the "most important and vital role" in the criminal conspiracy related to alleged payment of advance kickbacks of ₹90-100 crore meant for him and his colleagues in the Delhi government.
Before the high court, senior advocates Dayan Krishnan and Mohit Mathur, appearing for Sisodia, challenged the trial court's decision and pointed out the other accused in the case were either not arrested or have been granted bail.
"This is a plea for regular bail. Everyone except me is granted bail," Mr. Krishnan submitted.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.