The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant bail to senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and ex-Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case involving the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma held that Sisodia is a powerful person who could influence witnesses if freed on bail.
“The allegations are very serious in nature. The accused was a public servant… We have not investigated the excise policy or the government’s power. However, because the applicant is a powerful person, there is a possibility that he will influence the witnesses,” the Court stated.
On March 31, a trial court in Delhi denied Sisodia’s bail plea.
In a detailed judgement, special CBI judge MK Nagpal had prima facie stated that the former excise minister was the most essential and vital figure in the alleged Delhi Excise Policy criminal conspiracy.
This resulted in the current appeal before the High Court.
On February 26, the CBI arrested Sisodia in the liquor policy case. He was then arrested by the ED on March 9.
It is claimed that Sisodia and other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members conspired to issue liquor licenses to certain traders in exchange for bribery.
According to the central agencies, the Excise Policy was altered and profit margins were changed in a way that favoured some traders, and kickbacks were taken in exchange for this.
On April 28, the special court in the ED case too denied Sisodia bail. Appeal against the same is pending before the High Court.
