New Delhi: AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, was denied bail by the Delhi High Court in the Delhi Liquor Scam. The court observed that the allegations against Sisodia are very serious. In addition, the court said that Manish Sisodia held the position of Deputy Chief Minister with 18 portfolios and that he might influence the witnesses if bail is granted.
According to a report, Manish Sisodia was arrested on February 26 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for alleged corruption and irregularities in the Delhi’s Excise Policy in the year 2021-22. The Delhi government has since scrapped the excise policy after severe criticisms of corruption was leveled against it.
He was also arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 9 and is currently in judicial custody. The bail plea in the money laundering case charged by ED is pending in the High Court, said the report.
The report said that according to the CBI, Manish Sisodia and businessman Vijay Nair, were the main conspirators to manipulate the excise policy of the government which would favour cartelization and monopolization in liquor trade in the Delhi.
CBI said that Sisodia is the kingpin and architect of the conspiracy. While opposing Sisodia’s bail plea, the investigating agency said that the former Deputy CM had destroyed evidence and mobile phone on the day that the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi had referred the case to CBI.
The ED is probing the irregularities in implementing the excise policy of the government.
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