New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said that it has arrested Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in an ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged irregularities in framing and implementation of the excise policy after he gave evasive replies and did not cooperate the investigation despite being confronted with evidence to the contrary.

The instant case was registered against the Deputy Chief Minister and In-charge Excise Minister and 14 others for an investigation into the matter of alleged irregularities in framing and implementation of the Excise Policy for the year 2021-22 and extending post tender benefits to private persons.

A chargesheet has been filed on December 25, 2022, against the CEO of a Mumbai-based private company and six others. Further investigation is being carried out. The Deputy CM was issued a notice under Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C) for attending the investigation on February 19, 2023.

“However, he sought time of one week citing his pre-occupation. Accepting his request, he was issued a notice under Section 41A Cr.P.C for attending the investigation today (on February 26, 2023) for answering various questions evaded by him during his examination on October 17, 2022, and further questions relating to his incriminating role based on evidence collected during the investigation of the case. However, he gave evasive replies and did not cooperate the investigation despite being confronted with evidence to the contrary. Therefore, he has been arrested. The arrested accused will be produced before the Designated Court in Delhi,” the CBI said in a statement. (ANI)

Interrogation of Manish Sisodia shall be conducted under CCTV coverage: Court tells CBI

New Delhi [India], February 27 (ANI): The Rouse Avenue Court on Monday while sending Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) remand directed that the interrogation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader during remand period shall be conducted at some place having CCTV coverage in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court and the said footage shall be preserved by the CBI.

Special Judge MK Nagpal on Monday decided to send Manish Sisodia to CBI remand till March 4. Sisodia was arrested on Sunday in an ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of the Delhi government

The court said, keeping in view the facts and circumstances, the accused is being remanded to CBI custody for a period of five days ie till March 4 for his further and extensive interrogation. The court observed that the accused had joined the investigation of this case on two earlier occasions, but it has also been observed that he has failed to provide satisfactory answers to most of the questions put to him during his examination and interrogation conducted and has thus, failed to legitimately explain the incriminating evidence which has allegedly surfaced against him in the investigation conducted so far.

It is true that he cannot be expected to make self-incriminating statements, but the interests of justice and of a fair investigation require that he should come up with some legitimate answers to the questions which are being put to him by the Investigation Officer.

Some of his subordinates are found to have disclosed certain facts which can be taken as incriminating against him and some documentary evidence against him has also already surfaced and a proper and fair investigation requires that some genuine and legitimate answers to the questions being put to him about the same are to be found and hence, in considered opinion of this court, this can only be done during custodial interrogation of the accused, noted the court.

During arguements, CBI counsel told the court that the Delhi Deputy CM’s custodial interrogation is required for an effective investigation into the case. While seeking five days’ remand of Sisodia, CBI said, “Conspiracy was hatched in a very planned and secret manner.” Meanwhile, senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan appeared for Sisodia and opposed the remand application of CBI.

“if someone is not willing to say something, that cannot be a ground for arrest,” argued Sosodia’s lawyer. What should I do with a phone that I changed? I am a minister, I cannot send it to a second-hand shop, it would have important data. CBI confronted me with the material but I did not confess.

The Remand application says I gave evasive replies. This cannot be a ground for remand. They search my residence on August 19. 2022. I handover my phone. They called me to join the investigation and I joined. I cooperated,” Advocate Dayan Krishnan argued for Delhi Deputy CM. The CBI on Sunday released a statement on Sisodia’s arrests, claiming he was giving evasive replies and was not cooperating in the ongoing investigation in the liquor scam case. (ANI)

Manish Sisodia moves Supreme Court challenging arrest

New Delhi [India], February 28 (ANI): Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has moved Supreme Court challenging his arrest by the CBI in connection with the excise policy scam case.
The plea is likely to be mentioned in the Supreme Court on Tuesday seeking an urgent hearing on his plea.

This comes a day after the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Monday granted 5 days remand of Sisodia to the CBI till March 4, to interrogate him in the excise policy case. The senior AAP leader was produced before the court on Monday. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on Sunday. Aam Aadmi Party leaders and workers staged protests in various states on Monday, crying vendetta behind Sisodia’s arrest and calling for his release at the earliest.

The workers were seen sitting on roads and chanting slogans while some staged a foot march wearing handcuffs against the BJP in the national capital. The workers were seen attempting to cross the barricades as the police tried to push them back. The police asked the party workers to step inside the office.

AAP workers protested outside the party office in the national capital, raising slogans such as “Jail ke taale tutenge, Manish Sisodia chutenge” (Jail locks will be broken, Manish Sisodia will be freed).
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said they have come to be arrested, as the agency has arrested Manish Sisodia in a false case. “The Centre wants to arrest every leader, MLA and Minister of the AAP. So we, too, have come to PM Modi asking to be arrested. All of us have come to give our arrest. End our party and put us all in jail. The world should know that there is a dictatorship in India and the situation of Emergency is prevailing,” AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj told ANI earlier.

Meanwhile, the CBI on Sunday released a statement on Sisodia’s arrests, claiming he was giving evasive replies and wasn’t cooperating in the ongoing investigation in the liquor scam case. The agency further said Sisodia had been summoned earlier on February 19 in connection with the ongoing probe, but had sought a week’s time citing the Delhi Budget. “The Deputy CM was issued a notice under section 41A of CrPC for attending the investigation on February 19, 2023. However, he sought time of one week citing his preoccupation,” the CBI stated.

On his arrest, the CBI issued a statement saying, “He gave evasive replies and did not cooperate in the investigation despite being confronted with evidence to the contrary. Therefore, he has been arrested.” (ANI)