Court dismisses Sisodia's bail plea in excise policy scam
text_fields
Amid the arrest and custody of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, eight opposition parties write PM Modi on the matter.
New Delhi: In connection with the now-discontinued excise policy case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a Delhi judge on Friday denied the bail request made by the former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
On March 24, CBI Judge M.K. Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court reserved his decision.
He had been placed in judicial custody by the judge until April 3 on March 20.
During the last hearing, one of Sisodia's counsel had said that nothing exceptional was stated by the CBI which would warrant continued custody.
"Nothing on record to show that Sisodia will be threatening the witnesses," counsel said, arguing that Sisodia has cooperated with the CBI investigation and none of the searches have revealed any incriminating material against him.
"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 witnesses or threatening witnesses, etc. I request you to kindly grant me bail," counsel added.
Appearing for the CBI, Special Public Prosecutor D.P. Singh had said: "It's not only the mobile phones, files were also destroyed. I am very serious that destruction of evidence was a constant practice."
The CBI had opposed Sisodia's bail plea, saying that this would compromise and scuttle their investigation.
Sisodia on Tuesday also moved a bail plea in a court in the same case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The court had issued notice to the central agency.
After the CBI arrested the AAP leader on February 26, the ED also arrested him in the same case on March 9.
During the last hearing in the ED case, the court was apprised by the ED that important details have come up during Sisodia's custody and he had to confront other accused persons.
The probe agency had informed the court that voluminous data from the former Deputy Chief Minister's email and mobile is also being forensically analysed.
With inputs from IANS