Sisodia moves Delhi court for bail in liquor scam case after SC junks plea

Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia on Friday moved Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court for regular bail after his arrest this week over alleged irregularities in the capital’s liquor excise policy.

The plea will be heard Saturday, which is also the last day of his remand period. Sisodia – who has resigned from the cabinet and as deputy chief minister – moved the lower court after the Supreme Court refused to intervene. It pointed out he had sufficient legal remedies before approaching the highest court.

“We don’t want to interfere in such a matter at first instance. You can make all your points before the High Court”, the court had said.

“… you have full alternate remedies available (but) you have come directly to this court against arrest and for bail. How do we entertain it here?”

“… question is not about not having the power. We have… question is whether we should exercise this extraordinary power… will set a very wrong precedent,” the court said, displeased over having been approached out of sequence,

Sisodia – who held the Delhi government’s excise and education portfolios, among others – quit Tuesday, hours after the Supreme Court junked his plea.

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain – jailed for nine months on money laundering charges – also quit.

AAP leaders Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj have since been elevated to the cabinet, while existing ministers Kailash Gahlot and Raaj Kumar Anand have been given temporary charge of ministries headed by Jain and Sisodia.

Sisodia was arrested Sunday after being interrogated for eight hours. The Central Bureau of Investigation said he was arrested over ‘evasive replies’. The Delhi Rouse Avenue Court then gave the CBI custody of Sisodia for five days.

Sisodia’s arrest has been criticised by the opposition, who have accused the centre of (again) using investigative agencies under its ambit to target rivals.

AAP boss and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal hit out at the BJP this week.

“Two people who brought laurels to India have been jailed by PM Modi. Excise policy was an excuse… there was no scam. Sisodia was arrested as he did good work in education… Jain was arrested as he did good work.”

The AAP and Sisodia have rejected all allegations (and in Satyendar Jain’s case too), claiming the cases reflect the BJP’s fear at their growing influence ahead of key Assembly elections this year and the 2024 general election.

This week both the BJP and the Congress held protests against the AAP government. At separate demonstrations, the two targeted Kejriwal, and demanded his resignation over the allegations against Sisodia.