Delhi excise scam: City court extends Manish Sisodia’s CBI custody till 6 March

“Non-cooperation cannot be a ground for remand. They cannot say we will wait till he confesses. They should have completed the investigation. Their failure to complete investigation can’t be a ground for remand,” senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for Sisodia, said.

Claims of ‘mental harassment’

After the order was pronounced, Sisodia told the court that although the CBI was treating him well in its custody, repeated questions were causing “mental harassment”.

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“They are not using third-degree. But sitting for eight to nine hours and answering the same questions again and again, that too is mental harassment,” Sisodia said.

Special Judge MK Nagpal then directed the CBI not to ask him the same questions repeatedly after Sisodia termed it as “mental harassment”. “If you have something new, ask him,” the judge said.

In the last hearing, Judge Nagpal directed the CBI not to use the third degree on the accused.

Also Read: BRS MLC K Kavitha will be arrested next, says BJP ex-MP G Vivek

During the arguments, Sisodia’s counsel also told the court that his wife’s health was very poor and that she was basically in a “vegetative state”.

“While considering all things, my wife’s medical condition has been brushed aside. She is basically a vegetable and her body is degenerating,” the counsel said, on behalf of Sisodia.

The former deputy chief minister of Delhi made these arguments while opposing the CBI plea seeking his further custody on the ground that he was not cooperating.

Seeking bail

The court, meanwhile, issued notice to the CBI on Sisodia’s bail plea and directed it to file a reply by 10 March, when it will hear the arguments on the application.

In his application, Sisodia stated that he joined the investigation as and when called for by the central probe agency.

He further stated that no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping him in custody as all the recoveries have already been made, adding that the other accused persons arrested in this case have already been granted bail.

Asserting that he had held an important Constitutional post of deputy chief minister of Delhi, Sisodia said that he has deep roots in society.

Also Read: Delhi liquor scam: SC refuses to entertain Manish Sisodia’s bail plea 

Background on the case

There was heavy security presence in and outside the Rouse Avenue Courts premises. AAP supporters staged a protest outside the premises and raised slogans against the “mental harassment” meted by the CBI.

The CBI, on Sunday evening, arrested Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.

During the hearing, which lasted for more than an hour, Sisodia’s counsel said it was the lieutenant governor who approved the changes in the excise policy, and that the central probe agency was going after the elected government.

One of the accusations against Sisodia is that he colluded with the so-called “South Group” to tailor the Delhi excise policy to their requirements.

According to the CBI and the ED, the South Group paid the AAP leaders ₹100 crore in kickbacks.

Also Read: BRS blasts BJP for the arrest of Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia