New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday sent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former state deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia to judicial custody till 20 March in the liquor policy scam.
Sisodia was in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for seven days — ever since his arrest last Sunday for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the Delhi excise policy, 2021-22. Sisodia was in charge of the finance portfolio of the state government when the policy was made.
Following the arrest, he resigned from his post as deputy chief minister on 28 February.
In his bail application, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader has said that no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping him in custody as all recoveries have been made.
Sisodia also said he had joined the CBI investigation readily and whenever he was called.
But the trial court previously observed that while he had joined the probe in two earlier occasions, he reportedly failed to provide satisfactory answers, and had thus, failed to legitimately explain the incriminating evidence which has allegedly surfaced against him.
During arguments Monday, the CBI’s counsel told the Rouse Avenue Court that they were not seeking further remand at this stage, but may do so in the next 15 days.
The counsel accused AAP of politicising the matter. “We are not seeking custody right now. But we may do so in future. Their supporters and media are politicising the matter.” “Witnesses are terrified. The media is giving this a political colour,” the CBI said.
To this charge, Sosodia’s counsel Mohit Mathur retorted: “I am appalled by a submission like this. Are they scared of the media?”
Special CBI judge M.K. Nagpal then said: “If media is reporting, they are reporting. As long as protests are peaceful, it is fine.”
While sending Sisodia to prison, the judge allowed his application for providing him with spectacles, a copy of the Bhagwad Geeta, a diary and a pen. The AAP leader has been kept in Jail 1 of Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
The CBI’s case against Sisodia and other AAP members is that they granted liquor licences to certain traders in exchange for bribes. The probe agency has also accused them of tweaking the excise policy for this.
The AAP has denied all allegations and maintains that Sisodia is innocent.
Meanwhile, Sisodia argues that the policy and its changes were approved by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena.
Incidentally, Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the now-withdrawn liquor policy based on a report by the Delhi chief secretary last year.
Also read: Manish Sisodia gets TV channels’ sympathy but AAP’s defence of excise policy yet to be heard