Manish Sisodia, Manish Sisodia
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Former Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate in the corruption case related to excise policy, has demanded bail in the name of cooperation in the investigation. He argued that his son was studying abroad and his wife was alone and ill at home. In such a situation, he should be granted bail to take care of him.
Here, the CBI opposed the bail saying that Sisodia had 18 departments, all their information is with him. In such a situation, granting him bail will affect the investigation process. Special Judge MK Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court adjourned the hearing till March 24 while directing both the parties to submit written arguments.
Sisodia told the court that he has fully cooperated with the investigation and no incriminating documents have been recovered from him. All the accused in this case are out on bail. They should also be released on bail. Sisodia has also filed his bail plea in the money laundering case. He is currently in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till March 22.
He is to be produced in the court on Wednesday. The judge has issued notice to the ED on that bail plea seeking its response and adjourned the hearing till March 25. Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for Sisodia, said that there is nothing in the matter now and no incriminating documents have been found from his client. Also his wife is ill and son is also studying abroad. There is no one at home to take care of the wife.
The CBI opposed the bail saying they had 18 ministries and they had information about all. He said that the earlier policy was changed. There is no file containing notings of the cabinet meeting. All files are missing. The CBI said that when the government was making changes in the excise policy, the private party had consulted three prominent legal luminaries, former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, KG Balakrishnan and former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi. They are accessible persons and can influence the evidence and investigation after getting bail.
Changing their phones repeatedly proves that they have tried to destroy evidence. Sisodia’s counsel said that custodial interrogation was no longer required. There is no danger of him running abroad either. There is also no evidence of bribe taking against his client.
