Delhi Court To Hear Manish Sisodia's Bail Plea On March 10, Seeks CBI's Response

Delhi Court on Saturday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to respond to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia's bail plea in the case alleging corruption relating to excise policy for the year 2021-22. Sisodia has been in CBI custody since March 26.

Earlier this week, the trial court had remanded Sisodia to CBI's custody till March 4 which is ending today. Special CBI Judge MK Nagpal today heard the arguments on CBI's application for extension of the remand. The court extended Sisodia's CBI custody till Monday.

Meanwhile, the judge said the bail plea filed by Sisodia will be heard on March 10. The court asked the CBI to respond to the bail plea in the meantime.

Supreme Court had earlier refused to entertain Sisodia's petition challenging his arrest by the probe agency. It was observed that Sisodia has alternative remedies available before the High Court and asked him to pursue them instead of directly invoking the jurisdiction under Article 32 of the Constitution of India.

Sisodia was arrested on March 26 after an interrogation of more than 8 hours. He was named as an accused in the FIR. It is the case of the probe agency that there were alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy for the year 2021-22.

The CBI alleged that Sisodia was arrested as he gave evasive replies and did not cooperate with the investigation despite being confronted with evidence.

On Sunday, the CBI had commenced a second round of questioning. Sisodia was earlier questioned on October 17 last year. Chargesheet in the matter was filed on November 25, 2022.

The CBI FIR states that Sisodia and several others were instrumental in “recommending and taking decisions” regarding the excise policy 2021-22 “without approval of competent authority with an intention to extend undue favours to the licensee post tender.”