The Delhi High Court has rejected the bail plea of Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, in a CBI case concerning alleged corruption in the implementation of the previous liquor policy in the capital city. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, presiding over the bench, denied bail to Sisodia, citing his influential position and the potential for him to influence witnesses.
During the proceedings, the CBI opposed Sisodia’s bail plea, stating that he had close ties with executive officials and bureaucrats, and his influence and clout were apparent. The CBI also accused Sisodia’s party colleagues in high positions of making false claims to influence the investigation and portraying Sisodia as a victim of political vendetta.
The CBI argued that these statements by Sisodia and his party members aimed to shield the accused and undermined the authority of the Special Judge who had already taken cognizance of the offenses. The CBI further claimed that these unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations against the agency were intended to influence and deter witnesses. According to the CBI’s reply filed in the Delhi High Court, releasing Sisodia on bail would severely prejudice the ongoing investigation, particularly since he failed to meet the requirements for bail.
During the earlier arguments, Manish Sisodia, represented by Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, maintained that the Central Bureau of Investigation had no evidence linking him to the alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the government’s excise policy. Sisodia’s lawyer pointed out that every accused in the CBI case had been granted bail except Sisodia himself.
Sisodia, who was arrested on February 26, 2023, more than six months after the FIR was registered, emphasized that he had not posed any threat to any witness throughout the investigation period. He argued that the possibility of witness intimidation should not arise without any supporting material or previous incidents involving him. Moreover, as Sisodia had resigned from his official post, he no longer had control over the civil servants who were primarily the witnesses in the case.
Previously, the Delhi High Court had issued a notice to the CBI regarding Sisodia’s bail plea, challenging the trial court’s decision to deny him bail in the excise-related CBI case. Sisodia, presently in judicial custody, had his bail plea dismissed by the trial court on March 31, 2023. The court reasoned that his release could adversely affect the ongoing investigation and impede its progress.
According to the CBI, Sisodia played a significant role in the criminal conspiracy and was deeply involved in formulating and implementing the policy to fulfill the objectives of the conspiracy. The CBI alleged that he received advance kickbacks amounting to around Rs. 90-100 crores, intended for him and his colleagues in the GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi). A portion of these funds, approximately Rs. 20-30 crores, was allegedly routed through co-accused Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally, and approver Dinesh Arora. Sisodia allegedly manipulated certain provisions of the excise policy to protect the interests of the South liquor lobby and ensure repayment of the kickbacks.
The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Sisodia in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of the Delhi government. The trial court had noted that Sisodia had previously participated in the investigation but failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the incriminating evidence against him, thereby failing to legitimately defend himself against the allegations.
