Delhi court denies bail to Manish Sisodia in CBI case related to Delhi Excise Policy scam

A Delhi court on Friday denied bail to Delhi's former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the corruption case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in relation to the alleged Delhi excise policy case..Special CBI judge MK Nagpal of Rouse Avenue court passed the order. The judge had reserved the bail plea for verdict on March 24. .Sisodia and other members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are accused of granting liquor licenses to certain traders in exchange for bribes.The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI registered cases in relation to the alleged scam after Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe based on a report by the Delhi Chief Secretary. The report claimed that the Deputy Chief Minister violated statutory provisions and notified a policy that had significant financial implications.Although Sisodia was not named in the CBI's chargesheet, the probe remained open against him and some others.The AAP has denied the allegations and maintained that Sisodia is innocent.It is Sisodia's stance that the policy and the changes made in it were approved by the LG and that CBI is now going after the policy decisions of an elected government..Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26 after an interrogation that lasted nearly eight hours.A Delhi court had, on February 27, remanded Sisodia to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody till March 4 in the case after he was arrestedHe remained in CBI custody till March 6. After that, he was sent to judicial custody.He was subsequently also arrested by the ED in the money laundering case in relation to the same scam and was remanded to ED custody on March 10 for a week. On March 17, the court extended his custody for five more days.The matter had also travelled to Supreme Court when Sisodia challenged his arrest. However, the apex court refused to entertain his plea and asked him to approach the Delhi High Court first.On March 3, Sisodia filed for bail before the Rouse Avenue Court.