Manish Sisodia sent to five-day CBI custody for probe in excise policy scam
2 min read . Updated: 27 Feb 2023, 06:05 PM IST
PremiumManish Sisodia has been sent to CBI custody till March 4 for probe in the excise policy scam
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was arrested in connection with the alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the liquor policy, was on Monday sent to the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further probe into the matter.
Special judge M K Nagpal allowed the CBI's plea for the custodial interrogation of Sisodia. Earlier in the day, the court had reserved its order on the plea after hearing arguments from the CBI and Sisodia's counsel.
Manish Sisodia was arrested on Sunday in connection with allegations of corruption in the liquor policy for 2021-22, which has since been scrapped. The CBI claimed that the “conspiracy was planned and executed in a secretive manner".
Despite Sisodia denying any involvement in the excise case, the probe allegedly revealed that he personally made decisions related to it. CBI counsel told the court that the Delhi Deputy CM's custodial interrogation is required for an effective investigation into the case.
Meanwhile, senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan appeared for Manish Sisodia and opposed the remand application of CBI.
"if someone is not willing to say something, that cannot be a ground for arrest," argued Sosodia's lawyer. What should I do with a phone that I changed? I am a minister, I cannot send it to a second-hand shop, it would have important data. CBI confronted me with the material but I did not confess. The Remand application says I gave evasive replies. This cannot be a ground for remand. They search my residence on August 19. 2022. I hand over my phone. They called me to join the investigation and I joined. I cooperated," Advocate Dayan Krishnan argued for Delhi Deputy CM.
According to a statement released by the CBI on Sunday, Manish Sisodia was “giving evasive replies" and not cooperating with the ongoing investigation into the liquor scam case for which he was arrested.
(With agency inputs)