The Delhi High Court on Thursday  issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the bail plea of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged irregularities in framing and implementing the now-scrapped 2021-22 Delhi liquor excise policy. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma directed the investigating agency to file its response within two weeks on Sisodia’s plea which claimed he is “totally innocent” and a “victim of political witch-hunt”, and asked the agency to state its stand. The high court will next take up Sisodia’s appeal on April 20.

“Issue notice. Let reply be filed positively within two weeks. Copy to be given to the other side as well,” the Court ordered.

Before the high court, senior advocates Dayan Krishnan and Mohit Mathur, appearing for Sisodia, challenged the trial court’s decision and pointed out the other accused in the case were either not arrested or have been granted bail.  “This is a plea for regular bail. Everyone except me is granted bail,” Krishnan submitted.   Lawyer Anupam S Sharma appeared for the CBI and sought time from the court to file a reply.

The court granted two weeks to the probe agency to file its response.  In his plea filed before the court, Sisodia said there is no material to show his involvement in the offences alleged in the FIR and he has never received or ever gained any undue advantage.

 “The Applicant is totally innocent, who is a highly respected citizen and he has highest respect for the law. The Applicant is a victim of political witch-hunt, which has led to his arrest by the Respondent on account of ulterior motive to drag the reputation of the Applicant through the mud,” said the plea.

 The petition said the excise policy was the “collective responsibility” of the Cabinet and it was implemented after being drafted by the excise department. It was duly approved and Sisodia cannot be held criminally liable for the collective decision of the Cabinet, the excise department, finance department, planning department, the law department and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.

 “The GoM was only tasked with giving its report and suggestion to the cabinet and the policy had to be ultimately accepted by the Cabinet and various departments of Govt. Of NCT of Delhi,” it said.