New Delhi– The Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia’s interim bail plea for six weeks in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy case. The court has permitted Sisodia to meet his wife for one day while in “custody,” at her convenience, either at the residence or at the hospital between 10 am to 5 pm.
Sisodia sought release temporarily on the ground of being the sole caretaker of his ailing wife. During a High Court-permitted visit on Saturday, Sisodia could not meet his ailing wife as she was hospitalized right before his arrival.
Sisodia, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was arrested on May 30 by the Delhi Police on charges of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and violation of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The police had alleged that Sisodia had misused his position as deputy chief minister to approve the Delhi government’s excise policy, allegedly designed to benefit liquor barons.
Sisodia has denied all the charges against him and has called the case “politically motivated.” He has also alleged that the police have been torturing him in custody.
The Delhi High Court’s decision to reject Sisodia’s bail plea is a major setback for the AAP. The party is likely to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.
In other news, former Delhi Jal Board CEO Udit Prakash Rai, for whose official residence a 15th-Century monument was allegedly demolished, has filed a complaint against Special Secretary, Vigilance, YVVJ Rajasekhar, alleging “harassment” and “mental torture.” This comes days after the vigilance department asked Rai to reply to the show cause notice issued “without fail.”