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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday heard submissions in the bail plea filed by former Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the "Delhi liquor scam case".

During the hearing today, Senior Advocates Dayan Krishnan and Mohit Mathur appeared for Sisodia. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju along with Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) DP Singh appeared for the CBI.

Opposing the bail plea, ASG Raju contended, “It is a deep-rooted conspiracy. It is not as simple as depicted by them. Yesterday, we filed the chargesheet in the case. Cognizance is yet to be taken”.

He stated, “The main players being, the accused (Manish Sisodia), Vijay Nair who was closely related to the Aam Aadmi Party and was in fact occupying a Ministers Bungalow, one Kailash Gehlot’s, side by side to the CM- Arvind Kejriwal. Nair was the communication in charge of AAP, and had access to party meetings.”

“Our case is that at the behest of the 'South Group', the 5% interest was increased to 12%, right after a meeting that happened with the members of the South group”, he added.

ASG also stated that from March 14 to 17, 2021, the 'South Group' (a group of individuals) was residing in the Oberoi Hotel, Delhi, and they had prepared a note and taken the printout from Sisodia’s computer. 

In the present scam, the allegations are that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) allegedly received kickbacks of Rs. 100 crore from the South Group. The group allegedly paid bribes to exploit the loopholes in the excise policy that would secure their uninhibited access to various wholesale businesses and retail zones in violation of rules.

The ASG further contended that Sisodia is capable of pressurizing persons and the day CBI arrested him, he destroyed his phone. He also stated that as per evidence, he destroyed two mobile phones he used, one in July 2022 and another right before his arrest.

Taking note of the submissions, the bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said, “At the stage of bail, we cannot go into much details. Please show me evidence on which you (CBI) are relying in the present case.”

Accordingly, the court adjourned the matter and posted it for further hearing tomorrow i.e. April 27 at 2:30 pm.

Background:

It is to be noted that Sisodia’s bail plea in the CBI case was 'dismissed' by Special Judge MK Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi on March 31. While rejecting the bail plea, the court had stated that Sisodia played "the most important and vital role" in the criminal conspiracy, and he had been "deeply involved" in the formulation and implementation of the said policy. The court had reserved orders in the case on March 24.

Notably, on February 28, a CJI DY Chandrachud led bench of the Supreme Court dismissed former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia's plea challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an alleged case of corruption relating to liquor excise policy. The bench also comprising Justice PS Narasimha had held that "other efficacious remedies are available" to Sisodia.

On February 27, a Delhi court remanded Sisodia to CBI's custody till March 4. The CBI judge had allowed CBI's request after Sisodia was arrested on Sunday after an interrogation of more than 8 hours. 

It is CBI's case that there were alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy for the year 2021-22.  On February 26, the CBI commenced a second round of questioning after Sisodia was earlier questioned on October 17 last year. Chargesheet in the matter was filed on November 25, 2022.

Case Title: Manish Sisodia v. Central Bureau of Investigation

Statue: The Code of Criminal Procedure