Delhi: CBI Secures Remand for Manish Sisodia in Excise Policy Case

Pune, 27th February 2023: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has produced Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in court following his arrest on Sunday over corruption allegations related to the implementation of the 2021-22 Excise Policy. The CBI had requested a five-day remand for Sisodia, arguing that he was not cooperating with the investigation and that it was necessary to interrogate him. However, Sisodia’s lawyers opposed the arrest, and the court ultimately granted the CBI’s request for a remand till March 4.

During the hearing, the CBI presented its case against Sisodia, claiming that he gave oral instructions to a secretary to make a new cabinet note with the aim of changing the policy. Sisodia was heading the group of ministers that formulated the excise policy, which centered on profit margins. The CBI argued that the profit margin had increased from 5% to 12% due to the policy change, and that Sisodia could not explain why the policy had been altered. The agency also alleged that the conspiracy had been hatched in a secretive manner.

Sisodia’s defence team, which included senior advocates Dayan Krishnan, Siddharth Agarwal, and Mohit Mathur, argued that the CBI did not have grounds for remand. Krishnan pointed out that Sisodia had used four phones, three of which had been destroyed, and argued that this was not a valid reason for remand. He also noted that Sisodia’s house had been raided and that his phones were now in the possession of the investigating agency.

Krishnan further argued that the profit margin issue had already been approved by the LG, and that there was no basis for recalling Sisodia. He also questioned the CBI’s claim that Sisodia had given oral instructions to a secretary, stating that the policy had been approved by the LG in 2021 and that Sisodia had not been involved in any relevant phone calls, messages, or meetings.

The arrest of Sisodia has deepened the political divide between the BJP-led central government and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The development has sparked a heated debate in the public domain, with supporters and opponents of both parties taking sides.