In view of the “extremely serious” allegations against him and the possibility of “evidence tampering” in the excise policy case, the Delhi high court refused to grant interim bail to AAP functionary Manish Sisodia to attend to his ailing wife.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, however, allowed the former deputy CM to meet his wife in custody for one day, at her convenience, between 10 am and 5 pm.
Noting that the case concerns “extremely serious allegations” and there is a possibility of evidence tampering if Sisodia, who held several positions in the city’s AAP government, is released, the judge said, “the court finds it very difficult to persuade itself to release the petitioner on interim bail for six weeks”.
The HC had called for a report from LNJP Hospital on Sisodia’s wife at a special hearing. In its order, the court suggested that she be examined by a board of doctors at AIIMS and added that she should be provided the best medical treatment.
Sisodia had sought release on a temporary basis for six weeks contending he was the sole caretaker of his ailing wife. His plea for regular bail in the matter is pending before the high court in the case lodged by the ED while his bail plea in another case being probed by the CBI was recently rejected.
Sisodia was arrested on March 9 and currently in judicial custody in the case lodged by the ED. The agency had opposed the plea for interim bail on grounds of possibility of evidence tampering.