Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was on Monday sent to five-day Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody till March 4 in connection with his alleged corruption in the Delhi liquor policy scam.
While Sisodia was produced at Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court, several parts of the country could see heated exchanges with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protesting his arrest. Many protesters were also detained by the police.
Here are the top updates on Manish Sisodia’s arrest
🔴 A special court reserved the CBI order seeking 5-day custody of Sisodia.
Security was beefed up at several places in Delhi and other parts of the country. Sisodia’s hearing also took place amid tight security around.
The CBI sought police remand, saying it was necessary for effective interrogation of the AAP leader in the case.
During the hearing today, Sisodia’s counsel rejected the probe agency’s plea for custody and said there was “no ground” for his arrest. His lawyer also claimed that there was no evidence against him. “He is hiding the facts, not cooperating with the investigation… This can never be a ground for arrest,” the council said.
On the other hand, the CBI told the court that the Delhi Liquor Policy scam was about profit and the conspiracy was hatched in a “highly secretive manner”.
Sisodia’s counsel also countered the CBI’s allegation of his client not cooperating and said that as far as cooperation is concerned, Sisodia has done so every time. “As far as cooperation is concerned, it is also their case that I have cooperated. They have raided my house, my phones are with them.” He has highlighted the side of Sisodia that “came to the fore every time”.
“I am the finance minister. I have to present the budget… what changed yesterday that the finance minister had to be detained? Was he not available for the following days? Or has this arrest been done for some hidden purpose? This case is an attack on an individual as well as an institution. Sisodia’s counsel told the court, remand will send a message, this is a fit case to reduce the remand.
The hearing lasted for over an hour, after which Special Judge MK Nagpal allowed the CBI’s plea for custodial interrogation of Sisodia after reserving the order and hearing both the sides.
AAP leaders and workers took to the streets in the national capital and other places including Chandigarh, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mumbai, Srinagar, Jammu, Panaji, Patna and a few other cities.
In Delhi, hundreds of protesters were detained outside the AAP headquarters and police used force to remove them as they planned to march to BJP offices.
The protesters carried banners and chanted slogans such as “”.Long live Manish Sisodiaand some were seen in handcuffs.
AAP leaders lashed out at the BJP and the Center alleging that they had hatched a conspiracy to frame Sisodia.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday said Manish Sisodia’s arrest was “a result of a political conspiracy” and the agitation by AAP workers would continue.
The Congress party also protested and said the central institution was “selectively” targeting opposition leaders to destroy their reputation.
The Congress has always been of the view that institutions like the ED, the CBI and the Income Tax Department have become instruments of political vendetta and harassment under the Modi government. These institutions have lost all professionalism. Opposition leaders are selectively targeted to destroy their reputation.”
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday commented on the arrest of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and attacked the BJP for “misusing” central agencies to “intimidate the opposition”.
The BJP leader described the AAP as an ‘arajak pranidhi party’ (chaotic, criminal party) and said Kejriwal seemed to have taken an oath on the Constitution to destroy it.
Delhi’s deputy chief minister was arrested after nearly eight hours of questioning on various aspects of the excise policy for 2021-22, which the probe agency says had irregularities in both its formulation and implementation, aimed at the Aam Aadmi Party It was to benefit the people associated with it.
His arrest by the central probe agency is being seen as a move that could plunge the city into a governance crisis and widen the political rift between the AAP and the BJP-led Centre.
with agency inputs
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