Guwahati: Deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia filed a petition with the Supreme Court on Tuesday to contest the CBI’s decision to arrest him in connection with the excise policy scandal.
Supreme Court is set to consider the plea in an urgent hearing request today.
This occurs a day after a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court gave Sisodia a 5-day detention to the CBI until March 4 so they may question him regarding an excise policy matter.
Delhi Court remanded Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to CBI custody till March 4 in the alleged case on Monday.
In order to question Sisodia, the CBI requested five days of custody, which Special CBI Judge MK Nagpal granted.
Sisodia’s attorney, Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, said that Sisodia had been collaborating with the investigation team. Before the judge, he declared, “Someone not willing to say something you want to hear is no cause for remand.”
Remands, according to Krishnan, are not merely formalities, and the court should use its judgement to determine whether or not the central agency has carried out its obligations under Sections 41 and 41A of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur, who was also appearing for Sisodia said, “There were suggestions given by LG. Those were incorporated in policy before it came into force. It required discussions and deliberations. When there are discussions and deliberations, there is no room for conspiracy.”
Another Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal, who also represented Sisodia, questioned the timing of the arrest and said the minister has to present the budget. He said, “This case is assault to an individual as well as the institution. Remand will send a message … this is a fit case for declining remand.”
Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was arrested after eight-hours of interrogation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday for his alleged role in the liquor policy scam.
Before leaving for the CBI office, Manish Sisodia told supporters, “Even if I am in jail for seven to eight months, don’t feel sorry for me, be proud. PM Modi is afraid of Arvind Kejriwal, so he wants to frame me in a fake case. You should fight on. My wife, who has stood by me from Day 1, is unwell and alone at home. Take care of her. And I want to tell children of Delhi, Study hard and listen to your parents.”