Supreme Court To Hear Today Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia's Plea Challenging CBI Arrest In Liquor Policy Case

Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, has approached the Supreme Court of India challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an alleged case of corruption relating to now-scrapped excise policy.  After Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned the plea before a bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha for urgent listing, CJI agreed to hear it today at 3.50 PM, after the Constitution Bench sitting.

During the mentioning, CJI asked why can't Sisodia avail the remedies available before the High Court under Section 482 CrPC. CJI pointed out that the Court interfered last week in Pawan Khera's case as there was a prayer to consolidate FIRs filed in multiple states. Singhvi said that this was an extraordinary case warranting interference under Article 32 and cited the judgment in Vinod Dua case. 

Just yesterday, a Delhi Court had remanded Sisodia to CBI's custody till March 4. Special CBI Judge MK Nagpal had acceded to CBI's request for five days custody to question Sisodia.

Sisodia was arrested on Sunday 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. According to PTI, the CBI officials said 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.”