Manish Sisodia bail plea: here's what ex-Delhi minister told court, while CBI opposed

Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia who is in judicial custody in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam in his bail plea on Tuesday told a Delhi court that his wife was unwell and his son was studying abroad, and hence it was his responsibility to look after her.

Opposing Sisodia's bail, the Central Bureau of Investigation said he could influence witnsess and hamper the probe by destroying or hiding the evidence, if set free.

The former Delhi minister contended that he cooperated with the probe agency  and searches did not reveal any incriminating evidence against him. His lawyer argued that Sisodia was not a flight risk, and that his custodial probe was also needed anymore.

In response, CBI counsel said the probe agency has 60 days' time to file the chargesheet and investigation will be seriously compromised if Sisodia is granted bail, NDTV reported.

Meanwhile, the court on Tuesday sought the Enforcement Directorate's response on a bail plea of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the money laundering case.

On March 17, the court extended the ED custody of the AAP leader by five days till March 22.

The ED arrested Sisodia on March 9 in the Tihar Jail, where he was lodged in connection with a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case about alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. The CBI arrested Sisodia on February 26.

(With PTI inputs)

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