Meditation Cell, Bhagavad Gita: What Court Has Allowed Sisodia In Tihar Jail

A Delhi court has granted Manish Sisodia permission to bring a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, a diary, and a pen to prison, as well as spectacles and some prescription medications.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia has been held in detention till March 20 in connection with the Delhi liquor excise policy scam. This means that for the time being, he will remain in Delhi's Tihar Jail, where party colleague Satyendar Jain is also detained in connection with a money laundering case.

After observing that the Central Bureau of Investigation has not sought further charges against Delhi's ex-education minister, Special Judge MK Nagpal placed him in judicial detention. But, the agency has reserved the authority to do so, news agency PTI reported on Monday. 

As per the report, Sisodia can bring a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, a diary, and a pen to prison, along with spectacles and some prescribed medications. The judge also asked prison authorities to evaluate his request to be kept in the jail's meditation cell.

On Friday, Sisodia, the national capital's deputy chief minister before he resigned last week following his arrest by the CBI, would plead for bail before the same court.

He had already petitioned the Supreme Court, but his plea was dismissed; the top court acknowledged it had the jurisdiction to intervene, but stated doing so would set a poor precedent. It was also pointed out that Sisodia had not exhausted all other legal remedies before going to court.

Manish Sisodia, 51, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on the night of February 26, and the Rouse Avenue Court ordered him to be held in agency custody for five days. The CBI said Sisodia was evasive during eight hours of questioning after his arrest.

Sisodia and Delhi's ruling AAP went straight to the Supreme Court but were turned down and instructed to go through the lower courts first.

The Rouse Avenue Court was then moved, with the Sisodia side maintaining that keeping him in detention would be futile. Sisodia said in his bail application that CBI officials were asking him the same questions.

Kejriwal's deputy has been charged with corruption in connection with Delhi's (now-discontinued) liquor excise policy, which the CBI believes offered bribes to him and others. The investigation was begun after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena suggested it.

The AAP has refuted all charges and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power at the centre, of using investigative agencies to attack its opponents.

(With Inputs From PTI)