A Delhi special court on Friday dismissed the bail petition of AAP leader and former Delhi deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the CBI case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi liquor policy case. Sisodia will challenge the decision in the Delhi High Court.
CBI Judge MK Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court said prima facie the AAP leader was the architect of the criminal conspiracy in the matter, PTI reported. The court said Sisodia's release might adversely impact the ongoing investigation and "seriously hamper" its progress.
"The applicant had played the most important and vital role in the criminal conspiracy and he had been deeply involved in the formulation as well as the implementation of the said policy to ensure the achievement of objectives of the said conspiracy...Thus, as per allegations made by the prosecution and the evidence collected in support thereof so far, the applicant can prima facie be held to be the architect of the said criminal conspiracy," the judge said.
"...This court is not inclined to release the applicant on bail at this stage of investigation of the case as his release may adversely affect the ongoing investigation and will also seriously hamper the progress thereof. Therefore, this bail application filed on behalf of the applicant is being dismissed," the judge said.
On March 24, CBI Judge MK Nagpal had reserved his order on the matter. The court had on March 20 sent Sisodia to judicial custody till April 3.
During the hearing, Sisodia's counsel claimed that nothing exceptional was stated by the CBI which would warrant continued custody. The counsel also argued that Sisodia always cooperated with the CBI investigation and none of the searches have revealed any incriminating material against him.
"Nothing on record to show that Sisodia will be threatening the witnesses," the counsel said.
READ | Delhi Liquor Policy: Sisodia Sent To Judicial Custody Till April 5 In Money Laundering Case
"It goes without doubt that Manish Sisodia has deep roots in society. He has appeared every time he was called before the CBI. I am a public servant. There have been two public servants in this case, allegations far graver than mine. But they are sent without arrest. There is no real substantial evidence of tampering with witness or threatening witnesses, etc. I request you to kindly grant me bail," the counsel further said, IANS had reported.
Appearing for the CBI, Special Public Prosecutor DP Singh opposed Sisodia's bail plea, saying that it would compromise and scuttle their investigation.
"It's not only the mobile phones, files were also destroyed. I am very serious that destruction of evidence was a constant practice," the Special Public Prosecutor had said.
CBI arrested Manish Sisodia on February 26 on charges of corruption in Delhi's new liquor policy. The CBI has alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, an accusation strongly refuted by the AAP. The policy was later scrapped.
He was subsequently also arrested by the ED in the money laundering case in relation to the same case and was remanded to ED custody on March 10 for a week. On March 17, the court extended his custody.
The matter had also reached the Supreme Court, where Sisodia challenged his arrest. However, the top court refused to entertain his plea and asked him to approach the Delhi High Court first. Hours after the decision, Sisodia had resigned as minister from the Delhi Cabinet.