Excise policy scam: Sisodia’s bail plea rejected in CBI case
New Delhi (IANS)| A Delhi court on Friday rejected the bail plea of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in an excise policy case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). On March 24, CBI Judge MK Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court had reserved his decision in this case. On March 20, the court sent him to judicial custody till April 3.
During the last hearing, Sisodia’s counsel had said that nothing specific has been stated by the CBI, which would require continuation of custody. There is nothing on record to show that Sisodia was threatening the witnesses, the lawyer said. The lawyer argued that Sisodia has cooperated with the CBI probe and no incriminating material against him has come to the fore in any of the searches.
There is no doubt that Manish Sisodia has a deep hold in the society. Every time he was called before the CBI, he appeared. I am a public servant. There have been two public servants in this case, the allegations are much more serious than that. But he is not arrested.
There is no material evidence of witness tampering or intimidation of witnesses etc., the counsel said. I request you to please grant bail to Sisodia. Appearing for the CBI, Special Public Prosecutor D.P. Singh had said: Not only the mobile phone, the files were also destroyed. I am very serious that destruction of evidence was an ongoing practice.
The CBI had opposed Sisodia’s bail plea saying it would affect their investigation. Sisodia had also filed a bail plea in the same court on Tuesday in the same case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The court had issued a notice to the central agency.
After the CBI arrested the AAP leader on February 26, the ED also arrested him on March 9 in the same case. During the last hearing in the ED case, the court was apprised by the ED that important details have come to the fore during Sisodia’s custody and he has to be confronted with other accused persons.
The probe agency had informed the court that a huge amount of data from the email and mobile of the former deputy chief minister was also being forensically analysed.
–IANS
