The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the bail plea of Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma pronounced the order. The court had reserved the decision on May 11.
"The allegations are very serious in nature that the excise policy was formed at the instance of South Group with mala fide intention to give undue advantage to them. Such a conduct points towards the misconduct of the applicant who was admittedly a public servant and was holding a very high position" said Justice Sharma, reported LiveLaw.
The court also added that since Sisodia was Delhi Deputy CM with 18 portfolios and the witnesses being mostly public servants, the possibility of influencing the witnesses could not be ruled out.
Sisodia argued in court that no evidence of money trail has been found from him by the central agencies in the alleged liquor case and that the allegations against him are "in the realm of likelihood".
While the probe agency argued that the matter involved "multi-layered conspiracy". The agency also added that Sisodia allgedly remained evasive during the investigation.
Sisodia is currently in judicial custody in the cases registered by the CBI and ED.
The CBI had arrested Sisodia for alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 following several rounds of questioning. On March 31, he was denied bail by the special judge in the CBI case.
He is also in custody in a related money laundering case.
