NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail application filed by top AAP leader and former deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia in the liquor scam case, as the charges against him are serious in nature.
A single bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma also said there is a possibility of witnesses being influenced, as the applicant held 18 portfolios, and most of the witnesses are public servants.
The court said the applicant is not entitled to bail, therefore his application is dismissed.
It noted the CBI's allegations that the excise policy was formed at the instance of the 'South Group' with malafide intention to get an undue advantage through them.
Sisodia was a public servant and was holding a very high position. The statement of the concerned excise officer has been relied upon by the CBI, the court is restraining itself in making any comments and minute examination of the material on record so that no prejudice is caused to the applicant, it added.
The court had reserved the order in the case on May 11.
Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2022.
The CBI had lodged the case on August 17, 2022 under Section 120B IPC and Section 7 of the PC Act, 1988. A total of 15 persons were specifically named in the FIR, including Sisodia, who was the deputy Chief Minister as well as Excise Minister of the Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) for various irregularities in framing and implementation of the now scrapped excise policy for the year 2021-22.
He was subsequently also arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a case of money laundering in connection with the scam.
