Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told the Delhi court today that his wife is ill and there’s nobody to take care of her. His lawyer stated that his son studies abroad, and hence it’s his responsibility to look after her.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, which arrested him on February 26, opposed his bail, saying he is at such a high post in the government that he can easily not just hide, but even destroy, evidence related to the case.
Mr. Sisodia argued that he has cooperated with the CBI investigation into the Delhi excise policy case and none of the searches have revealed any incriminating material against him. His lawyer said his custodial interrogation was no longer required and he was not a flight risk.
“I am a public servant, but two other public servants, against whom allegations are graver, have not been arrested,” his counsel contended, adding that there’s no documentary evidence of receiving kickbacks against him.
The CBI argued that even if Mr. Sisodia is not a flight risk, he can influence witnesses and hamper the investigation if set free.
Mr. Sisodia’s counsel also told the court that all the offenses alleged entail less than seven years of imprisonment in the case, and any further incarceration is not justified.
Manish Sisodia held 18 portfolios, and had all the information, CBI’s lawyer stated and alleged that he destroyed multiple phones that he had used and even some crucial files.
The counsel appearing for the CBI submitted that frequently changing phones by the former deputy chief minister were not an innocent act, but deliberately done for the destruction of evidence in the case.
He said that the “Probe agency has 60 days to file the chargesheet in the case and if Manish Sisodia comes out, the investigation will be seriously compromised.”
