Sisodia to stay in custody for 2 more days, order on bail reserved

A Delhi court on Saturday reserved an order on former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's bail plea and extended his Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) remand by two days. Sisodia, who was arrested by the CBI in the alleged liquor scam in Delhi last Sunday evening after eight hours of interrogation, moved a Delhi court on Friday seeking bail.

While hearing the matter, a judge of Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court said, "Let the bail application be accepted on March 10 at 2 pm." The CBI is also scheduled to file a reply to Manish Sisodia's bail plea on March 10. Meanwhile, Enforcement Directorate (ED) sources said the enforcement agency is likely to seek extension of Sisodia's custody, adding that Sisodia is yet to be made face to face with the other suspects in the case. In her bail plea, Sisodia mentioned that she will appear before the Central Investigating Agency whenever 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 said that keeping him in custody would serve no fruitful purpose as all retroactive measures had already been taken. He also said that other accused people arrested in this case have already been released on bail, adding that he held the important constitutional post of Deputy CM of Delhi and has deep roots in the society.

Sisodia is expected to be produced before a magistrate on Saturday after his five-day CBI remand expires. The plea was filed before special judge MK Nagpal, who posted the matter for hearing on Saturday, his lawyer Rishikesh said. The recent objection was raised by Sisodia's lawyer at Delhi's Rouse Avenue court after the Supreme Court refused to grant his bail plea, saying only because the incident happened in Delhi.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha said that one cannot appear directly in the apex court as the person has his remedies in the competent court as well as in the Delhi High Court. Manish Sisodia resigned from Arvind Kejriwal's cabinet after he was arrested by the central agency last week.

Many Aam Aadmi Party workers staged a protest in central Delhi on Saturday demanding the release of senior party leader Manish Sisodia, who was arrested by the CBI in connection with the consumer policy case. The protest broke out ahead of Sisodia's appearance before the court on Rouse Avenue, just a few meters away from the party office on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. The workers raised slogans like "Manish Sisodia ko riha karo" (Manish Sisodia's release). They took to the streets hours after the AAP convenor met some of the workers in Delhi. The party claimed that Sisodia was arrested to defend the "good work" being done by the Delhi government in the education sector.

Several police teams were deployed as backup at the AAP headquarters. Barricades and water cannons were also placed on DDU Marg. Meanwhile, AAP leader Manish Sisodia was produced in the Rouse Avenue court at the end of his five-day CBI custody and ahead of his bail hearing.