Court reserves order for Sisodia’s bail plea, CBI says “he is influential”

April 20, 2024

New Delhi :  The Rouse Avenue court on Saturday reserved the regular bail pleas of former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. He has sought regular bail in CBI and ED cases related to the Delhi Excise Policy case.

CBI said court has rejected his bail
While opposing the bail plea, the CBI said that this Court had rejected his bail. His bail was dismissed by the Supreme Court too.
Special judge Kaveri Baweja, after hearing the submissions of ED and CBI, reserved the order for pronouncement on April 30.

Advocate Vivek Jain appeared for Manish Sisodia, Zoheb Hossain for ED, and Pankaj Gupta for the CBI.

During the hearing, the plea seeking interim bail for General election campaign was withdrawn by the counsel for Sisodia.

CBI prosecutor opposed bail plea
CBI’s Prosecutor, Pankaj Gupta, while opposing bail, said that Sisodia is the main accused in the case and is not entitled to bail.

He further said that accused does not satisfy the rigors of PMLA for granting of bail. He is powerful political figure. The investigation is at a nascent stage.

Manish Sisodia is influential, destruction of evidences is possible : CBI
It was further submitted that there are allegations of destruction of evidence and misuse of power, which may hamper the probe.
Pankaj Gupta referred to former PM Manmohan Singh, who said that corruption is cancer for society.

ED denied delay in trail
On April 6, while opposing the regular bail plea of Sisodia, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said that there was no delay on the part of the prosecution. Rather, it was caused by the accused persons by filing frivolous applications in the Delhi Excise Policy case, the ED said before the Rouse Avenue court.

The main thrust of arguments by counsel for Manish Sisodia was the delay in trial. It was argued that trial proceedings are going at a snail’s pace. ED’s special counsel, Zoheb Hossain, opposed the argument of delay.