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Synopsis

Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia moved the Delhi High Court on Thursday, against the trial court's order denying him bail in the Central Bureau of Investigation's case related to the Delhi liquor policy scam.

During the hearing today, Senior Advocates Dayan Krishnan and Mohit Mathur appeared for Sisodia. Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Anupam Sharma appeared for CBI.

Krishnan for Sisodia submitted, "This is the case where everyone has been granted bail except me by the trial court. Many of them have not even been arrested."

Mathur added, "In this case, 7 persons were charged, 5 have still not been arrested and 2 were granted bail before filing of chargesheet, another person arrested in February was again granted bail by the same court." Krishnan further contended, "Public Servants against whom they say there are allegations are not even arrested. Request the Court to hear the matter at the earliest."

Taking note of the submissions, the bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued notice to CBI and sought reply on the plea within two weeks. Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further hearing on April 20.

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