Delhi Liquor Policy: Sisodia Denied Bail In CBI Case By HC, To Move Supreme Court

Delhi High Court has denied bail to former deputy CM Manish Sisodia in the CBI's case in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.

In a big jolt to Manish Sisodia, Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of the Aam Aadmi Party leader in the CBI case alleging corruption in the implementation of excise policy for 2021-22. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma pronounced the order which was reserved on May 11. Now, Sisodia will move the Supreme Court against the HC order on his bail plea. Notably, Sisodia is currently in judicial custody in the cases registered by the CBI and ED.

He was denied bail by the special judge in the CBI case on March 31. He was later denied bail in the ED case also by the trial court.

While pronouncing judgment, Justice Sharma said that the allegations are very serious. "The accused was a public servant... We have not examined the excise policy nor the power of the government. However the applicant being a powerful person, there is the possibility of him influencing the witnesses," Justice Sharma said, as quoted by Bar and Bench.

Sisodia, in his bail plea, argued that no evidence of money trail has been found from him by CBI in the alleged liquor policy scam case and that the allegations against him are "in the realm of likelihood".

On Saturday, CBI mentioned Delhi's ex-deputy CM Manish Sisodia as an accused in its chargesheet regarding the excise policy scam case. According to the chargesheet presented by the agency, Manish Sisodia has acknowledged destroying two cellphones that he was using before July 2022, news agency ANI reported.

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Saturday took cognisance of the supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI against AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and other accused. The court issued summons to Manish Sisodia, Arjun Pandey, Butchi Babu and Amandeep Dhal for June 2, ANI reported.

"The two handsets which were used prior to 22.07.22 have been admittedly destroyed by accused Manish Sisodia as confirmed by him in his response to Notice under section 91 CrPC", the agency claimed, ANI reported. 

According to the agency, their probe found that Sisodia used three separate mobile devices between January 1 and August 19, 2022. The last mobile device utilized by him was confiscated during the investigation.

CBI claimed that Manish Sisodia developed and executed the Excise policy with the intention of promoting the establishment of monopolies and cartels within the liquor industry in Delhi.

Special Judge M K Nagpal acknowledged the additional accusation brought against Manish Sisodia, Arjun Pandey, Butchi Babu and Amandeep Dhal.

The order on the recognition of the additional charges presented in the supplementary charge sheet was kept pending by the court on May 19. On April 25, an additional indictment was submitted for the suspected scandal regarding the liquor policy in Delhi.