Manish Sisodia Denied Bail by the Delhi HC in Excise Policy Case

NEW DELHI: Manish Sisodia, former deputy chief minister of Delhi, was granted bail on Tuesday in the excise policy case by the Delhi High Court, which noted that the applicant is a prominent figure who may have the ability to sway witnesses.

Sisodia's motion for bail in the case brought by the Central Bureau of Investigation regarding the alleged irregularities in the creation and execution of the Delhi excise policy 2021–22 was being heard by a single judge bench presided over by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma.

“In view of the discussion made, the allegations are very serious in nature that the excise policy was formed at the instance of the South group with intention to give undue advantage to them. Such an act points towards the misconduct of the applicant who was admittedly a public servant and was holding a very high position,” the high court said.

“The allegations are very serious in nature. The accused was a public servant… We have not examined the excise policy nor the power of the government. However, the applicant being a powerful person, there is the possibility of him influencing the witnesses,” according to Bar and Bench.

On March 31, a trial court in Delhi denied Sisodia's request for bail, and he then moved the High Court. The trial court concluded in its ruling that Sisodia, who oversaw the excise department, was the key figure in the criminal conspiracy involving the purported Delhi excise policy case.

Sisodia moved the High Court with his appeal after receiving no relief from the trial court.

The Enforcement Directorate later placed Sisodia under custody on March 9 after the CBI had him on the 26th of February. The Aam Aadmi Party and Sisodia have both refuted the allegations that they conspired to give liquor licences to certain businesses in exchange for bribery.

According to the CBI and ED's argument, the excise policy was adjusted and the profit margins were manipulated in a way that favoured some dealers, and kickbacks were given in return.

After being denied bail by the special court in the ED case, Sisodia has filed a petition with the Delhi High Court, seeking relief. In the CBI case, Sisodia's bail request was denied today.

When arguing against the claim, the CBI alleged that the top AAP leader had authority over several agencies, including the excise, and that on the day the Lieutenant Governor sent the case to the CBI, he willfully destroyed both evidence and a cell phone.

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