SC rejects Manish Sisodia's bail plea, suggests moving HC
The Supreme Court refused to entertain the bail plea of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia On Tuesday. The bench of Chief Justice (CJI) DY Chandrachud suggested Sisodia's counsel move the Delhi High Court to seek bail against his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Following the suggestion, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stated it will file a petition with the HC.
Why does this story matter?
The CBI arrested Sisodia on Sunday after questioning him for over eight hours in connection with alleged corruption in the AAP-led Delhi government's now-scrapped 2021-22 Delhi Liquor Policy. The CBI has alleged that under the policy—which Sisodia was instrumental in formulating—the AAP extended undue favors to liquor traders in lieu of kickbacks, which the party used in election campaigning.
Singhvi cited Vinod Dua's case to approach SC directly
When Chandrachud asked Sisodia's counsel, senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, why they didn't approach the Delhi High Court before coming to the SC, Singhvi cited the court's judgment in the Vinod Dua case of June 2021. The SC had dismissed a sedition case against journalist Dua for his criticism of the Centre's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dua had reportedly approached the SC directly.
Custody to ensure Sisodia gives 'genuine' answers: Court
The court granted the CBI's request for Sisodia's custody on Monday, saying that the investigation was intended to gather "genuine and legitimate" answers to ensure a fair probe. Observing that Sisodia had previously joined the investigation on two occasions but had failed to provide satisfactory answers, Special Judge MK Nagpal approved the plea for custodial interrogation.
Sisodia wasn't named in CBI's chargesheet
The CBI earlier raided Sisodia's residence and checked his bank lockers. Sisodia claimed that the probe agency "found nothing" in their search to incriminate him. Despite being named as the key accused in the case, he did not appear in the CBI's chargesheet. Sisodia and the AAP claimed that it was a plot by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to harass its political rivals.
AAP held protests against Sisodia's arrest in Delhi, other states
Meanwhile, AAP workers and leaders held protests in Delhi and across the country against Sisodia's arrest on Monday. Calling it an "Emergency-like" situation created by the BJP using state agencies for ulterior motives, AAP claimed that 80% of its district in charge and local leaders, including MP Sanjay Singh and MLA Gopal Rai, have been unlawfully detained for over 24 hours.
