New Delhi: In a major development, the Aam Aadmi Party has decided to hand over senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia’s portfolios to Delhi cabinet ministers Kailash Gehlot and Raj Kumar Anand, reported news agency ANI. No new minister will take oath in the cabinet. Earlier, Manish Sisodia had resigned from the post of Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi amid allegations of corruption in the liquor scam case. Along with Sisodia, Health Minister Satyendar Jain has also resigned from his post. Jain is in jail in a separate corruption case. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has accepted the resignations of both the leaders. 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.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s portfolio may be given to Delhi cabinet ministers Kailash Gehlot and Raj Kumar Anand. For the time being, no new minister will take oath: Sources pic.twitter.com/Fyj5AVe8fb– ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2023
SC refuses to hear Sisodia’s plea
Earlier today, the Supreme Court declined to hear the bail plea of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is in CBI custody, news agency PTI reported. News agency ANI reported that the Aam Aadmi Party will now approach the Delhi HC regarding the arrest of Sisodia.
A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha refused to interfere in Sisodia’s case, and asked him to ‘avail alternative remedies’. The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi approached the Supreme Court on Tuesday for bail in the Excise Policy case.
The apex court observed that the arrested AAP leader has remedies under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to approach the Delhi High Court for bail and seeking quashing of the FIR. A special Delhi court on Monday sent Sisodia to five-day CBI remand in the excise policy matter to enable the agency to get “real and valid” answers to “reasonable and fair” questions.
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.