A Delhi court has dismissed the bail application of Manish Sisodia, former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), in a case related to allegations of money laundering linked to the excise policy. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had accused Sisodia of being involved in the generation, dissemination, and transfer of proceeds of crime. Sisodia had moved the bail application on March 21, but it was rejected by the court. The court upheld the ED’s allegations and stated that releasing Sisodia at this stage could disrupt the ongoing investigation.
Sisodia was arrested on March 9 by the ED and sent to Tihar Jail after interrogation. He had argued that there was no significant evidence to support the allegations against him, but the ED claimed that he was one of the prime conspirators in the policy’s formulation and implementation and had created the ecosystem for the transfer of the proceeds of crime. The ED also alleged that he had planted fake emails to show public approval of the policy. The court had rejected Sisodia’s bail application in the CBI case on March 31, citing the ongoing investigation.
This decision marks a setback for Sisodia and the AAP, who have been embroiled in this case for several weeks. Furthermore, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recorded the statement of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the Excise policy case. The CBI issued a notice to Kejriwal under section 160 Cr.P.C for his examination in the case. The agency found fresh evidence related to the matter and determined that there were grounds for the CM to be questioned.
In a separate development, conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar has written a letter to Delhi Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena, claiming that Sisodia is receiving VVIP treatment in jail. Sukesh has also demanded an inquiry into the VVIP treatment given to Sisodia in jail in his letter. Additionally, Sukesh accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of spreading lies about Sisodia’s security, claiming that Sisodia is being jailed with gangsters and is unsafe.
The timing of Kejriwal’s letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressing his support for Stalin amidst the state government’s conflict with Governor RN Ravi is notable. Kejriwal’s letter mentioned that “democracy in India is being dealt frequent blows.” The letter was sent a day before Kejriwal was scheduled to be questioned by the CBI regarding the Delhi excise policy case.
This case has raised several questions from all sides and parties concerned. The capital amount of the scam is 5 to 7 thousand crores, which is comparatively negligible in comparison to previous scams of the country, and yet the deputy CM of a state is in jail. Some have questioned whether this is a ploy by the BJP to target AAP and their monopoly in Delhi. There are also queries regarding the south mafia’s connection to Delhi’s liquor scam and the links between CM Arvind Kejriwal and Stalin. Furthermore, it is unclear how a conman like Sukesh Chandrashekhar comes into the picture of such a high-profile case. Some have also raised concerns about who else has benefited from the scam and whether there is a possibility that the CM will also face the same fate as his deputy. Finally, some are wondering why a minister of the state with an otherwise clean record and a respectful public image is unable to secure bail.
In conclusion, the Delhi excise policy case has become a complex web of allegations, accusations, and counter-accusations. The rejection of Manish Sisodia’s bail application has dealt a significant blow to him and the Aam Aadmi Party. The case has also brought to the forefront questions of the involvement of the south mafia, the BJP’s intentions, and the fate of other politicians in Delhi. The situation is a reminder that the Indian political landscape is fraught with corruption and that justice is often slow in coming. As the case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how it will impact Delhi’s political scene and whether more names will be added to the list of those implicated in the scam.
