Manish Sisodia’s CBI custody extended for 2 days, bail plea hearing on March 10

New Delhi,Mar 4 :  A city court on Saturday extended the CBI custody of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s bail plea by two days till Monday in the alleged excise policy scam. The court also said that Sisodia’s bail plea hearing will take place on March 10.

Sisodia, who was arrested by the CBI in the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam last Sunday night after eight hours of questioning, on Friday moved a Delhi court, seeking bail.

The Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court court judge, while hearing the matter, said, “Let the bail application be taken up on March 10 at 2 pm.”

The CBI is also set to file a reply to Manish Sisodia’s bail application on March 10.

In his bail plea, Sisodia mentioned that he would appear before the central probe agency whenever he was called.

Sisodia was arrested for criminal conspiracy and intent to defraud under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In his bail application, he stated that no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping him in custody as all the recoveries have already been made.

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He also stated that other accused people arrested in this case had already been granted bail, adding that he had held an important constitutional post of the Deputy CM of Delhi and had deep roots in society.

Sisodia is scheduled to be produced before the judge on Saturday following the expiry of his five-day CBI custody. The application was filed before Special Judge MK Nagpal, who posted the matter for hearing on Saturday, his advocate Rishikesh said.

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The recent plea was moved by Sisodia’s lawyer in Delhi Rouse Avenue Court after the Supreme Court refused to entertain his bail application, stating that just because the incident had happened in Delhi.

The SC bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha said that someone cannot come to the apex court directly as the person has his/her remedies before the trial court concerned as well as the Delhi High Court.

Manish Sisodia resigned from Arvind Kejriwal’s Cabinet after his arrest by the central agency last week.

Scores of Aam Aadmi Party workers staged a protest in central Delhi on Saturday demanding the release of senior party leader Manish Sisodia, who has been arrested by the CBI in connection with the excise policy case.

The protest erupted before Sisodia’s appearance before the Rouse Avenue court, only a few metres from the party office on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg.

The workers raised slogans like ‘Manish Sisodia ko riha karo’ (release Manish Sisodia). They hit the street hours after the AAP’s Delhi convener held a meeting with some of the workers. The party has alleged that Sisodia has been arrested to obstruct the “good work” being done by the Delhi government in the education sector.

Several police teams have been deployed as back up at the AAP headquarters. Barricades and water cannons have also been placed on DDU Marg.

Meanwhile, AAP leader Manish Sisodia has been brought to the Rouse Avenue Court at the end of his 5-day CBI custody and ahead of his bail plea hearing.

-PTI