New Delhi (India), March 22, 2023: Former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia has been sent to two weeks of judicial custody by a Delhi court on Wednesday in connection with a money laundering case linked to the city’s now-scrapped liquor sales policy.
Special Judge MK Nagpal ordered Sisodia’s detention until April 5th after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) produced him at the end of his custodial interrogation.
The ED had questioned Sisodia, who was divested of his ministerial portfolios after his arrest, for seven days in its custody in the case. On Tuesday, the special court deferred the hearing on his bail request in the main liquor sales policy case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The bail request will now be heard on Saturday.
Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the drafting and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021–22. The ED arrested him on March 9th in Tihar jail, where he was already lodged in connection with the case being probed by the CBI.
During the bail hearing, Sisodia’s counsel argued that his client has cooperated with the CBI investigation and none of the searches have revealed any incriminating material against him. They added that his custodial interrogation was no longer required and that he was not a flight risk. However, the CBI opposed his bail, claiming that he could influence witnesses and hamper the investigation if released.
Sisodia’s counsel also contended that he was a public servant and that two other public servants, against whom graver allegations were made, had not been arrested. The CBI argued that even if he was not a flight risk, he could still hide or destroy evidence related to the case if released. The court will hear Sisodia’s bail plea on Saturday.
