New Delhi: A CBI Special Court allowed the CBI five days’ custody of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was arrested on corruption allegations in the Delhi Liquor Policy Case. He will be produced on March 4.
CBI Special Judge MK Nagpal, after hearing arguments on behalf of the prosecution and Defence Counsel, reserved its order pertaining to the CBI custody of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Sisodia was arrested by the Investigating Agency on February 26 after about eight hours of questioning on various aspects of the excise policy for 2021–22. According to the Investigating Agency, the excise policy suffered from irregularities both in its formulation and implementation.
CBI after arresting Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, produced him before the Rouse Avenue Special Court, New Delhi, in tight security.
Government Counsel for the CBI requested a five-day police remand of Sisodia, submitting that he is not cooperating and being evasive in his reply, so five days CBI custody is required.
Counsel for Sisodia objected to CBI custody of Sisodia, claiming that there are no legal grounds for CBI custody based on the High Court and Apex Court judgments. He submitted that CBI is alleging that he has destroyed his phone, but he is a minister and cannot give his phone for second hand use, so this is not a ground for remand. He submitted that Sisodia is always cooperative with the investigating agency in this case, and their case is that he didn’t confess.
Counsel further submitted that CBI is trying to hide the suggestions given by the Lt. Governor, which were accepted before implementation. He said the Lt. Governor gave his nod for the policy, so everything has been done with the permission of the Lt. Governor.
CBI Special Judge MK Nagpal after hearing queries CBI Counsel why CBI custody is required in this case.
Counsel for CBI submitted that custody is required because he is not cooperating with investigation and concealing true facts.
After hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence counsel, CBI Special Judge MK Nagpal granted the CBI custody of Sisodia until March 2004.
AAP holds protest
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday held a protest at DDU Marg against the arrest of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the (now-scrapped) Delhi excise policy.
Amid tight security, several AAP supporters staged a protest near BJP headquarters at DDU Marg, they were subsequently detained and dispersed by the police personnel from the road.
Early in the morning, Delhi Minister Gopal Rai called for a massive protest outside the BJP’s national headquarters in Delhi.
“AAP will celebrate Black Day today by protesting across the country against the arrest of Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia. Today there will be a protest outside BJP’s national office in Delhi,” Rai tweeted.
Delhi Police and Para military personnel were deployed and multi-layered security was put near the CBI headquarters, AAP and BJP offices after calling for a massive protest against Sisodia’s arrest.
Gopal Rai, during a press briefing, alleged that it was not an investigation of a scam but that it was being investigated under political rivalry. “The CBI requested a five-day remand of Manish Sisodia from court. CBI did not get anything for raiding Sisodia ji’s office, house, and village. The agency will not get anything even in 5 days. The scam is not being investigated by the CBI, it is being investigated under political rivalry,” alleged Rai.
