New Delhi: Rejecting the opposition’s allegation of “political vendetta”, the BJP hit out at the AAP for opposing the arrest of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and said the CBI was acting legitimately against the “corrupt”. It seems that the ruling party of the city doesn’t believe in the law, the constitution and the people. Addressing a press conference, BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia said, “With its ‘drama’ and show of ‘anarchy’, AAP has indicated that it will not allow investigative agencies to do their work which hinders the process of justice.” tantamount to putting up and committing contempt of court.”
Bhatia described the AAP as an “anarchic criminal party” (chaotic criminal party) and said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seemed to have taken an oath on the Constitution to destroy it. He further said, “Neither Kejriwal follows the law nor does he sack his ministers involved in corruption. Jain has not got bail yet as the courts believe that the charges against him are serious.”
Sisodia sent to CBI custody for 5 days
A special court here on Monday sent Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to five-day CBI remand to enable the agency to give “genuine and valid” answers to the questions being asked of him for a “proper and unbiased investigation” in the excise policy matter. Can meet ,
Special Judge MK Nagpal passed the order on a CBI plea in which the AAP leader was produced in and outside the Rouse Avenue court complex amid heavy security, a day after he was arrested. The agency had sought his custody for five days.
The judge observed that though the accused had joined the investigation of the case on the first two occasions, it has also been observed that he has failed to give satisfactory answers to most of the questions put to him during interrogation and interrogation. Thus, he has failed to legitimately explain the incriminating evidence alleged to have come to light against him during the investigation conducted so far.
It is true that he cannot be expected to make a self-incriminating statement, but in the interests of justice and a fair investigation, he is required to give some valid answers to the questions that are being put to him by the Investigating Officer (IO). Are. , “Some of his subordinates have disclosed certain facts which may be taken as indictment against him and some documentary evidence against him has also come to the fore…
“…a proper and fair investigation requires that some real and valid answers be found to the questions being put to him in this regard and therefore, in the opinion of this Court, this can be done only during custodial interrogation” Is.” accused,” the judge said. “Keeping in view the facts and circumstances, the accused is being remanded to CBI custody for a period of 05 days i.e. till March 4, 2023, for further and comprehensive interrogation,” the judge said.
He said that in so far as apprehensions are being expressed by the senior counsels regarding any use of force or use of third party methods to extract information from the accused, “this court does not expect such officers from the CBI , who is entrusted with the task of interrogating the accused holding the high position of Deputy Chief Minister of GNCTD and some other important departments”. The judge said that such apprehensions can always be removed by imposing certain conditions in any case.
Manish Sisodia’s arrest
The CBI arrested Sisodia on Sunday evening in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-cancelled liquor policy for 2021-22.
During the hearing, which lasted for over an hour, Sisodia’s counsel said it was the lieutenant governor who had approved the change in excise policy and the central probe agency was going after the elected government. He said, “I can’t do anything. It has to be approved by the appropriate authority.”
Sisodia claims, CBI does not have evidence
Sisodia claimed that there was no evidence against him and opposed the CBI’s plea for remand. He said, “I (Sisodia) is the finance minister. I have to present the budget… What changed yesterday that the finance minister was detained? Was he not available for the next days? Or was this arrest for someone’s sake?” was done?” Ulterior motive? This case is an attack on an individual as well as an institution. Remand will send a message, this is a fit case to decline remand,” Sisodia’s counsel told the court.
He submitted that Sisodia served as a member of the Delhi government and hence the decision could neither be attributed to him nor questioned. The CBI counsel said Sisodia’s custody was necessary for effective investigation in the case. The agency said Sisodia claimed that he had no role in the matter but probe revealed that he personally took the decisions.
Sisodia’s counsel opposed the probe agency’s plea for custody, saying the CBI says they changed their cell phones, but it is not an offence. The lawyer said that the policy was implemented after taking suggestions from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi as well and since it required consultation, there was no possibility of conspiracy.
Sisodia was represented by senior advocates Dayan Krishnan, Mohit Mathur and Siddharth Agarwal. The CBI informed the court that further investigation is underway in the matter. Earlier this month, the agency had interrogated Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in Tihar jail in connection with the case after taking the judge’s permission.
Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. He is not an accused in the Excise Policy case. The CBI had also questioned AAP’s communication in-charge Vijay Nair, who is lodged in Tihar Jail in the Excise Policy money laundering case being probed by the ED. Nair was earlier granted bail by the court in the CBI Excise Policy case.
(with agency inputs)