NEW DELHI: Delhi’s Rose Avenue court sent Former Deputy Minister Manish Sisodia to Judicial custody until April 5th after ED does not seek remand. The order came as the court heard the arguments over Manish Sisodia’s bail plea filed in the Delhi excise policy case under the CBI’s probe. It has posted the matter for hearing next on March 24 and has asked parties to file their submissions.
Delhi’s former deputy chief minister’s lawyers argued that no incriminating material was revealed during searches led by the CBI. Mr. Sisodia’s counsel, while making submissions on the bail plea of the AAP leader, said his custodial interrogation was no longer required and he was not a flight risk.
On CBI’s allegations of kickbacks being paid, Senior Counsels Dayan Krishnan and Mohit Mathur said that there is no documentary evidence of alleged kickbacks paid or received by Sisodia. Further, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, there should be demand or acceptance, or conscious demand or acceptance, which is not present in this case.
The counsel representing Sisodsi further argued that Delhi’s (now repealed) excise policy that CBI is arguing against had gone through the seal of the Lieutenant Governor and criminality cannot be solely attributed to Sisodia.
“Issue of profit margin and eligibility, which has formed the subject matter here, is a matter which went through Lt Governor, Law Secretary, and Finance secretary, without any adverse comment,” said Senior Advocate Krishnan.