Delhi Liquor Scam: Rouse Avenue Court Sends Dy CM Manish Sisodia To CBI Custody Till March 4

The Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Monday sent deputy CM Manish Sisodia to CBI custody till March 4 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.

A Special CBI Judge, MK Nagpal granted the CBI’s request for five days of custody to question Sisodia.

Appearing for Sisodia, Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, said he has been cooperating with the agency in probe. “Someone is not willing to say something you want to hear is no ground for remand,” Advocate Krishnan stated.

He also argued that remands aren’t just a formality, and that the court should apply its mind to determine whether or not the central agency has followed the mandate of Sections 41 and 41A of the CrPC.

Senior advocate Mohit Mathur, who is also representing Sisodia, stated, “LG made some recommendations. These were incorporated into policy prior to its implementation. It required deliberation and discussion. There is no room for conspiracy when there are discussions and deliberations.”

Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal, who also represented Sisodia, questioned the timing of the arrest and stated that the minister must present the budget. “This is an assault on both an individual and an institution. Remand will send a message… this is a good case for declining remand “Aggarwal stated.

The Deputy CM was arrested on Sunday after an 8-hour interrogation. The FIR named him as an accused. According to the investigation agency, there were alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the excise policy for the fiscal year 2021-22.

According to CBI officials, Sisodia was arrested because he gave evasive answers and refused to cooperate with the investigation despite being confronted with evidence.

The CBI began a second round of questioning on Sunday. Sisodia was previously questioned on October 17, 2017. On November 25, 2022, a chargesheet in the case was filed.

According to the CBI FIR, Sisodia and others were involved in “recommending and taking decisions” regarding the excise policy 2021-22 “without the approval of competent authority with the intention of extending undue favours to the licensee post tender.”