An architect… What Delhi court said while rejecting Manish Sisodia’s bail plea

A Delhi Court on Friday denied bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in Delhi Excise Policy case.

The court made some stinging remarks while rejecting the bail plea filed by Sisodia.

The court observed that the former Deputy Chief Minster of Delhi prima facie played the most important and vital role in the criminal conspiracy.

Special CBI judge, M K Nagpal while denying bail to Sisodia in the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that as per the allegations made by the prosecution, Sisodia can be held to be the architect of the criminal conspiracy.

"The evidence collected so far clearly shows that the applicant through the co-accused Vijay Nair was in contact with the South lobby and formulation of a favourable policy for them was being ensured at every cost and a cartel was permitted to be formed to achieve monopoly in sale of certain liquor brands of favoured manufacturers and it was permitted to be done against very objectives of the policy," judge, Nagpal said.

The court also noted that there were serious apprehensions of Sisodia destroying evidence or even influencing some prime witnesses in the case, if he were to be released on bail.

While rejecting the bail on the ground of parity with the other accused, the court said that Sisodia's rile could not be equated with or put at part with the roles of the other three accused, who have already been granted bail.

"The evidence collected so far by the CBI not only shows applicant's active participation in the above criminal conspiracy, but also the prima facie commission of some substantive offences of the PC Act by him," the court said.

Sisodia and others have been accused of manipulating the Delhi Excise Policy to facilitate monopolisation of liquor trade in Delhi.

It has been alleged by the CBI that this was done against the advance kickbacks of around Rs 90 crore paid by persons carrying out the liquor business from South India.

To ensure repayment of the said kickbacks, certain provisions in the Excise Policy were inserted to favour the "South lobby" and other members of the cartel, the CBI had alleged.

While delving deeper into the facts of the case, judge Nagpal said that the allegations made against the appellant are serious in nature.

"The allegations made against the applicant are serious in nature and at this stage of the case, he does not deserve to be released on bail as he has been arrested in this case only on 26.02.2023 and investigation even qua his role has still not been completed," the judge observed.

Sisodia was arrested on February 26 by the CBI, following an interrogation that lasted nearly 8 hours.

On February 27, he was remanded in CBI custody till March 4. He remained in CBI custody until March 6, following which he was sent to judicial custody.