New Delhi, Feb 28.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to give any interim relief to Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia who was arrested recently by the CBI in connection with the Delhi excise policy, 2021.
“Not at this stage,” a bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud told senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
The bench, which also comprised Justice P.S. Narasimha, said that he could instead of pressing his Article 32 petition in the top court move the appropriate court for bail or seeking quashing of the charges in the High Court.
Singhvi argued that the excise policy was cleared by the Cabinet and the LG.
The charge carries a jail term of less than 7 years. He is not a flight risk and has been summoned twice in 8 months and has appeared both times for questioning.
“Where is the need to arrest him? Where is the flight risk?”
The CJI though insisted that he go to the High Court. Arnab Goswami was a case of free speech involving the case, the CJI said, rejecting any parallels to the case.
Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who also held the excise portfolio, had moved Supreme Court earlier today challenging his arrest. Sisodia was remanded to CBI custody till March 4 by a Delhi court on Monday.
Special CBI judge M.K. Nagpal allowed the CBI to keep Sisodia in custody on the ground that he had “failed to provide satisfactory answers” in connection with the scam. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on Feb 26 for being “evasive” and “uncooperative”.
Fourteen other persons have also been arrested in connection with the case including some bureaucrats i.e. public servants in connection with the corruption charges.
The AAP has dubbed the charges as “politically motivated”.
