Image Credits-ANI
The Delhi excise policy case took another turn on Saturday as the Rouse Avenue Court reserved its order on the bail plea of former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia for April 30th. Sisodia, who has been in jail since February 2023, had sought bail in the cases filed against him by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
As the hearing commenced, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja was confronted with contrasting arguments from the prosecution and defense. Public Prosecutor Pankaj Gupta, representing the CBI, vehemently opposed bail for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader. Gupta asserted that Sisodia, being an influential politician, had allegedly instigated the commission of the offense by his co-accused.
Drawing a parallel to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s stance, Gupta emphasized, “Corruption is a cancer for society.” He further alleged evidence tampering, claiming documents were still missing from the high-profile case. The ED’s special counsel, Zoheb Hossain, echoed similar sentiments.
However, Sisodia’s lawyer Vivek Jain countered the prosecution’s claims. Expressing frustration over repeated adjournments, Jain underscored the Supreme Court’s directive for an expeditious trial. Jain argued, urging the court to uphold Sisodia’s legal rights.
The Delhi excise policy case has sparked significant political controversy. Both the CBI and ED allege that the now-scrapped policy was tweaked to benefit certain liquor traders in exchange for kickbacks to the AAP. High-profile arrests, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, and BRS leader K. Kavitha, have fueled the firestorm.
As the nation awaits the court’s verdict, the case has brought into sharp focus the intricate interplay between politics, law enforcement, and the judicial system. Sisodia’s continued incarceration has become a rallying point for the AAP, which has denounced the charges as a political witch-hunt orchestrated by the BJP-led central government.
With the stakes high and tempers flaring, the April 30th order could prove pivotal, potentially swaying the narrative in this high-stakes legal and political drama.
The article has been modified using artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
