News Analysis India

Tag: Manish Sisodia

  • Breaking: No Relief For AAP’s Manish Sisodia, Delhi Court Rejects Second Regular Bail Plea In Excise Policy Case |

    NEW DELHI: In a big setback for jailed former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Admi Party leader Manish Sisodia, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court on Tuesday dismissed his second regular bail application in connection with the alleged money laundering probe against him linked to the Excise policy case. Rouse Avenue Court’s Special judge Kaveri Baweja denied bail to Sisodia after reserving the verdict in his bail pleas on April 20. 

    According to news agency ANI, Sisodia’s bail was strongly opposed by both CBI and ED. While opposing Sisodia’s bail plea, the ED argued that the continuation of the excise policy would have made consumers pay hundreds of crores annually. The central agency has also earlier stated that the excise policy would not have been possible without Sisodia.

     

    Delhi | Rouse Avenue court dismisses the second regular bail application of AAP leader Manish Sisodia in Delhi Excise policy case. His bail was opposed by both CBI and ED.

    He had sought bail on the ground of delay in the trial. His earlier bail application was also dismissed by…
    — ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2024

     

    Sisodia had sought bail on the grounds of delay in the trial. His earlier bail application was also dismissed by the court last year. The AAP leader has been in custody since February 2023.

    Sisodia will now approach the Delhi High Court after Rouse Avenue court dismissed his second regular bail application in the Delhi Excise policy case.

    The AAP leader has been denied bail by the trial court, Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court in both ED and CBI cases. The Supreme Court had also dismissed Sisodia’s review petitions against the denial of bail. His curative petitions have also been dismissed.

    The Enforcement Directorate, which is investigating the money laundering allegations linked to the excise policy case, has not yet framed charges against the AAP leader. The ED had earlier informed the apex court that it would complete the trial within six to eight months. 

    Sisodia has been accused of playing a key role in framing the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, tweaking it for the benefit of particular liquor entities and causing a loss of several hundred crores to the state exchequer. Sisodia was first arrested by the CBI in February 2023, and then by the ED in March that year. 

    In the ED chargesheet, Sisodia has been named as a “key conspirator” in the case, following which he resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.

  • Excise policy case: Manish Sisodia moves Delhi court seeking interim bail for election campaigning

    AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who has been arrested by the CBI and ED in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam case, on Friday moved a court here seeking interim bail for poll campaigning. Special Judge for the CBI and ED, Kaveri Baweja, is likely to take up the application for hearing later in the day.

    The CBI as well as the ED have alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the Delhi excise policy, undue favours were extended to licence holders, licence fee was waived or reduced and licences were extended without the competent authority’s approval.

    The beneficiaries allegedly diverted “illegal” gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection, the probe agencies have alleged. The former deputy chief minister was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023, for his alleged role in the “scam”. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Sisodia in a money-laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9, 2023.

    Sisodia resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.

  • Sanjay Singh: Delhi excise policy case: Court allows AAP MP Sanjay Singh to take oath in custody

    The Rouse Avenue court on Saturday allowed AAP MP Sanjay Singh to take oath as MP Rajya Sabha on February 5, 2024, in custody. He has been arrested and charge-sheeted in the Delhi Excise Policy money laundering case.Meanwhile, the court extended the judicial custody of Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and AAP MP Sanjay Singh till February 17. Both were produced physically before the court.Special Judge M. K. Nagpal allowed Sanjay Singh’s request to allow him to take oath in judicial custody.He withdrew the plea, seeking interim bail to attend the ongoing Parliament session and to take the oath. It was submitted that he has to appear before a court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on February 7.

    Advocates Rajat Bhardwaj, Dr Farrukh Khan and Prakash Priydarshi appeared for Sanjay Singh.

    During the hearing, advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir, counsel for Amandeep Singh Dhall, submitted that he had received CCTV footage without audio supplied.It was also submitted that the footage contains a confrontation between Dinesh Arora and Amandeep Singh Dhall in March 2023 but it is without audio. Tanveer Ahmed Mir has again submitted that the CCTV footage with audio be provided.He also submitted that some allegations were levelled by Dinesh Arora on April 23, 2023, three days before the filing of the prosecution complaint against Dhall. These allegations were not made in March 2023.

    He also referred to the Supreme Court judgement in Paramveer Saini, where it was directed that all investigation agencies shall have CCTV cameras with video and audio facilities installed.

    Advocate Rajat Bhardwaj moved an application seeking a supply of statements recorded before the court, including those of Raghav Magunta and P Sharat Reddy. Their statements were recorded and given a pardon; now their statements are under unrelied documents.

    The court noted that an application seeking CCTV footage of Dinesh Arora and Sharat Reddy was also filed, but reply not filed.

    An application seeking a direction to place a record of the emails written by accused Dhall to ED is also filed. All these applications will be heard on the next date of hearing.

    The court, on December 19, took cognizance of the supplementary prosecution complaint (charge sheet) filed against AAP MP Sanjay Singh and his Associate Sarvesh Mishra.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on December 2, filed a supplementary prosecution complaint (charge sheet) against Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh and his alleged associate Sarvesh Mishra in a money laundering case related to the Excise policy case.

    On October 4, AAP MP Sanjay Singh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate.

    Earlier, a charge sheet was filed against Manish Sisodia. According to the Enforcement Directorate, it’s a fifth supplementary chargesheet in the case. This case is presently at the stage of scrutiny of documents.

    ED earlier told the court that Sanjay Singh was part of the conspiracy to collect kickbacks from liquor groups in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

    Sanjay Singh allegedly had close relations with now approver Dinesh Arora, who allegedly introduced accused Amit Arora to Sanjay Singh

    Dinesh Arora was in regular touch with Sanjay Singh. This has been proven by an analysis of Call Detail Records. Singh allegedly received proceeds of crime of Rs 2 crore, stated the ED.

    ED earlier claimed that Singh and his associates played a part in the Delhi government’s decision to give licenses to alcohol shops and merchants in 2020, causing losses to the state exchequer and violating anti-corruption laws

    ED had previously searched a number of locations, including the homes and offices of Sanjay Singh’s close associate, Ajit Tyagi and other contractors and businessmen who allegedly benefited from the policy. In its nearly 270-page supplementary charge sheet, the ED has called Sisodia a key conspirator in the case.

    The Delhi liquor scam case or the excise policy case pertains to allegations that the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 allowed cartelization and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge that has been strongly refuted by the AAP.

    Last year, ED filed its first chargesheet in the case. The agency said it has so far undertaken over 200 search operations in this case after filing an FIR after taking cognizance of a CBI case that was registered on the recommendation of the Delhi lieutenant governor.

    The CBI inquiry was recommended based on the findings of the Delhi chief secretary’s report filed in July showing prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009, and Delhi Excise Rules-2010.

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  • PM Modi doesn’t understand importance of education, writes jailed AAP leader Sisodia

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Jailed AAP leader Manish Sisodia has written a letter addressing the people of the country, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not understand the importance of education.

    In the letter which was posted on Twitter by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his former deputy said, “It is very dangerous for the country if the prime minister is less educated.”

    “(Narendra) Modi does not understand science…Modi ji does not understand the importance of education,” Sisodia claimed in the letter, alleging that 60,000 schools have been closed in the country in the last few years.

    “It is necessary to have an educated prime minister for the progress of India,” he said.

    The CBI had on February 26 arrested Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

    मनीष सिसोदिया ने जेल से देश के नाम चिट्ठी लिखी -प्रधानमंत्री का कम पढ़ा-लिखा होना देश के लिए बेहद ख़तरनाकमोदी जी विज्ञान की बातें नहीं समझतेमोदी जी शिक्षा का महत्व नहीं समझतेपिछले कुछ वर्षों में 60,000 स्कूल बंद किएभारत की तरक़्क़ी के लिए पढ़ा-लिखा पीएम होना ज़रूरी pic.twitter.com/VpPyY1Jr2v
    — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 7, 2023

    NEW DELHI: Jailed AAP leader Manish Sisodia has written a letter addressing the people of the country, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not understand the importance of education.

    In the letter which was posted on Twitter by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his former deputy said, “It is very dangerous for the country if the prime minister is less educated.”

    “(Narendra) Modi does not understand science…Modi ji does not understand the importance of education,” Sisodia claimed in the letter, alleging that 60,000 schools have been closed in the country in the last few years.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “It is necessary to have an educated prime minister for the progress of India,” he said.

    The CBI had on February 26 arrested Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

    मनीष सिसोदिया ने जेल से देश के नाम चिट्ठी लिखी –
    प्रधानमंत्री का कम पढ़ा-लिखा होना देश के लिए बेहद ख़तरनाक
    मोदी जी विज्ञान की बातें नहीं समझते
    मोदी जी शिक्षा का महत्व नहीं समझते
    पिछले कुछ वर्षों में 60,000 स्कूल बंद किए
    भारत की तरक़्क़ी के लिए पढ़ा-लिखा पीएम होना ज़रूरी pic.twitter.com/VpPyY1Jr2v
    — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 7, 2023

  • ED to question Sisodia in Tihar Jail; one more businessman arrested in Delhi excise case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is expected to question and record the statement of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday as part of its money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in the excise policy matter, official sources said.

    The federal probe agency also made a fresh arrest in this case as it took into custody Hyderabad-based liquor businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai on Monday evening, they said.

    The ED investigators will reach the Tihar Jail around noon to record the statement of Sisodia under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

    The CBI arrested Sisodia on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi liquor or excise policy for 2021-22. He is lodged in judicial custody till March 20.

    The ED obtained the court’s permission to question the 51-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, who till recently was the deputy CM of Delhi, in the cell number 1 of the jail.

    The agency is expected to question him about the alleged change and destruction of cellphones that were in his possession and the policy decisions and the timeline followed by him as the excise minister of Delhi.

    These charges were made by it in its supplementary complaints filed before the court.

    The ED may invoke section 19 of the PMLA, that allows it to arrest people involved or accused in the case, if the investigation officer has “reasons to believe” that the person is “guilty” of the offence of money laundering.

    The CBI, during its custody of Sisodia, had confronted him with his former secretary C Arvind and then Excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna in connection with alleged manipulation of the excise policy.

    Sisodia was not mentioned as accused in the charge sheet of the CBI filed in the case on November 25 last year.

    It is alleged that the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers, who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP.

    The policy was later scrapped and the Delhi LG recommended a CBI probe following which the ED booked a case against the same accused under the PMLA.

    The ED has informed the court through its charge sheet that its probe found that at least 36 accused, including Sisodia “destroyed, used or changed” 170 phones to conceal evidence of “kickbacks” worth thousands of crores of rupees in the alleged scam.

    It had also named Sisodia’s boss and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the second charge sheet filed in the case early this year, claiming that C Arvind, a DANICS officer who was earlier secretary to Sisodia, recorded his statement under the PMLA saying he was given the GoM report on the excise policy in the middle of March, 2021 when he was called by his boss (Sisodia) to the residence of Kejriwal.

    In a linked development, Arun Pillai was taken into custody under the criminal sections of the PMLA on Monday evening following a long session of questioning.

    Pillai is a partner in a company called Robin Distilleries LLP whom the ED had said represented the ‘south group’ alleged liquor cartel linked to Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao’s MLC daughter K Kavitha and others.

    He is also linked to arrested liquor businessman Sameer Mahandru, his wife Geetika Mahandru and their company Indospirit Group.

    He will be produced before a local court where the ED will seek his further custody for interrogation, they said.

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is expected to question and record the statement of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday as part of its money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in the excise policy matter, official sources said.

    The federal probe agency also made a fresh arrest in this case as it took into custody Hyderabad-based liquor businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai on Monday evening, they said.

    The ED investigators will reach the Tihar Jail around noon to record the statement of Sisodia under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The CBI arrested Sisodia on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi liquor or excise policy for 2021-22. He is lodged in judicial custody till March 20.

    The ED obtained the court’s permission to question the 51-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, who till recently was the deputy CM of Delhi, in the cell number 1 of the jail.

    The agency is expected to question him about the alleged change and destruction of cellphones that were in his possession and the policy decisions and the timeline followed by him as the excise minister of Delhi.

    These charges were made by it in its supplementary complaints filed before the court.

    The ED may invoke section 19 of the PMLA, that allows it to arrest people involved or accused in the case, if the investigation officer has “reasons to believe” that the person is “guilty” of the offence of money laundering.

    The CBI, during its custody of Sisodia, had confronted him with his former secretary C Arvind and then Excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna in connection with alleged manipulation of the excise policy.

    Sisodia was not mentioned as accused in the charge sheet of the CBI filed in the case on November 25 last year.

    It is alleged that the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers, who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP.

    The policy was later scrapped and the Delhi LG recommended a CBI probe following which the ED booked a case against the same accused under the PMLA.

    The ED has informed the court through its charge sheet that its probe found that at least 36 accused, including Sisodia “destroyed, used or changed” 170 phones to conceal evidence of “kickbacks” worth thousands of crores of rupees in the alleged scam.

    It had also named Sisodia’s boss and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the second charge sheet filed in the case early this year, claiming that C Arvind, a DANICS officer who was earlier secretary to Sisodia, recorded his statement under the PMLA saying he was given the GoM report on the excise policy in the middle of March, 2021 when he was called by his boss (Sisodia) to the residence of Kejriwal.

    In a linked development, Arun Pillai was taken into custody under the criminal sections of the PMLA on Monday evening following a long session of questioning.

    Pillai is a partner in a company called Robin Distilleries LLP whom the ED had said represented the ‘south group’ alleged liquor cartel linked to Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao’s MLC daughter K Kavitha and others.

    He is also linked to arrested liquor businessman Sameer Mahandru, his wife Geetika Mahandru and their company Indospirit Group.

    He will be produced before a local court where the ED will seek his further custody for interrogation, they said.

  • Sisodia quits Delhi govt after SC rejects his bail plea, Jain follows suit

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Hours after the Supreme Court refused to entertain Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s petition challenging his arrest by the CBI in the liquor policy scam, he and other incarcerated colleague Satyendar Jain resigned as ministers in the AAP government. 

    Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accepted the resignations. In a late-night announcement, Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot was given additional charge of finance, PWD, power and home held by Sisodia. The outgoing deputy CM’s other portfolios like education, health and services were allotted to Social Welfare Minister Raaj Kumar Anand as additional charge.

    “The work of Delhi should not be interrupted, so Kejriwal accepted the resignations,” said AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. Sisodia’s resignation came a couple of days after his arrest while Jain put in his papers almost eight months after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case related to money laundering.

    Sisodia was handling 18 of the total 33 departments of the Delhi government. He was directly monitoring several critical government projects, including streetscaping and traffic decongestion plans, ahead of the G20 summit. He was also the administrative face of the government.

    In the SC, when counsel A M Singhvi mentioned the matter before a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha, they said Sisodia has alternative remedies for getting the FIR quashed under Section 482 CrPC. He can also apply for bail in a lower court, the bench said. “Just because an incident happens in Delhi doesn’t mean we are approached. It will set a very wrong precedent,” Justice Narasimha said.

    Singhvi argued that “The allegation is that there was policy decision taken where he (Sisodia) was one rung out of the seven, including the L-G. Power of arrest does not mean compulsion to arrest.”

    Blow to AAP national expansion? Sisodia’s arrest and resignation could affect the AAP’s national expansion plans ahead of the 2024 LS polls. The BJP hopes it will tie down Kejriwal to Delhi and Punjab

    NEW DELHI:  Hours after the Supreme Court refused to entertain Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s petition challenging his arrest by the CBI in the liquor policy scam, he and other incarcerated colleague Satyendar Jain resigned as ministers in the AAP government. 

    Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accepted the resignations. In a late-night announcement, Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot was given additional charge of finance, PWD, power and home held by Sisodia. The outgoing deputy CM’s other portfolios like education, health and services were allotted to Social Welfare Minister Raaj Kumar Anand as additional charge.

    “The work of Delhi should not be interrupted, so Kejriwal accepted the resignations,” said AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. Sisodia’s resignation came a couple of days after his arrest while Jain put in his papers almost eight months after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case related to money laundering.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Sisodia was handling 18 of the total 33 departments of the Delhi government. He was directly monitoring several critical government projects, including streetscaping and traffic decongestion plans, ahead of the G20 summit. He was also the administrative face of the government.

    In the SC, when counsel A M Singhvi mentioned the matter before a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha, they said Sisodia has alternative remedies for getting the FIR quashed under Section 482 CrPC. He can also apply for bail in a lower court, the bench said. “Just because an incident happens in Delhi doesn’t mean we are approached. It will set a very wrong precedent,” Justice Narasimha said.

    Singhvi argued that “The allegation is that there was policy decision taken where he (Sisodia) was one rung out of the seven, including the L-G. Power of arrest does not mean compulsion to arrest.”

    Blow to AAP national expansion? 
    Sisodia’s arrest and resignation could affect the AAP’s national expansion plans ahead of the 2024 LS polls. The BJP hopes it will tie down Kejriwal to Delhi and Punjab

  • BJP doing dirty politics to stop AAP govt from sending teachers to Finland for training: Sisodia

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday alleged that the BJP was resorting to “dirty politics” to stop the AAP government’s efforts to send school teachers to Finland for training.

    At a press conference here, he said so far around 1,100 teachers have undergone training abroad, including Singapore, the UK and Finland.

    Now, that the people of the BJP have an “unauthorised hold” over the services department, they are “doing dirty politics” to stop the AAP government in Delhi from giving the best training to teachers, Sisodia alleged.

    He said that if Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena cares for the future of children and doesn’t want their education to be impacted, then he “should not side with the BJP in their conspiracy”. There was no immediate reaction from the BJP or the LG Secretariat over Sisodia’s charges.

    “We wanted to send a batch of 30 teachers to Finland for training. The LG delayed it on one pretext or another,” Sisodia claimed.

    The Delhi deputy chief minister alleged the BJP was trying to “use all its might” to stop the Delhi government’s efforts to send school teachers to Finland for training.

    “We sent teachers to Finland as it is one of the best places that has carried out education reforms. We want to expose our teachers to such international standards, as it is the teachers who contribute to raising the standard of education,” Sisodia told reporters.

    He said, “The BJP doesn’t know it because they have nothing to do with education.” Sisodia said the file regarding sending teachers to Finland for training will be again sent to the LG.

    “We had sent the file on Finland visit of teachers to LG, and he has asked for a cost-benefit analysis if such a programme can be done in India,” he claimed, adding, “The prime minister and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states will go to World Economic Forum.

    Will that also be stopped on the pretext of cost-benefit analysis?” 

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday alleged that the BJP was resorting to “dirty politics” to stop the AAP government’s efforts to send school teachers to Finland for training.

    At a press conference here, he said so far around 1,100 teachers have undergone training abroad, including Singapore, the UK and Finland.

    Now, that the people of the BJP have an “unauthorised hold” over the services department, they are “doing dirty politics” to stop the AAP government in Delhi from giving the best training to teachers, Sisodia alleged.

    He said that if Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena cares for the future of children and doesn’t want their education to be impacted, then he “should not side with the BJP in their conspiracy”. There was no immediate reaction from the BJP or the LG Secretariat over Sisodia’s charges.

    “We wanted to send a batch of 30 teachers to Finland for training. The LG delayed it on one pretext or another,” Sisodia claimed.

    The Delhi deputy chief minister alleged the BJP was trying to “use all its might” to stop the Delhi government’s efforts to send school teachers to Finland for training.

    “We sent teachers to Finland as it is one of the best places that has carried out education reforms. We want to expose our teachers to such international standards, as it is the teachers who contribute to raising the standard of education,” Sisodia told reporters.

    He said, “The BJP doesn’t know it because they have nothing to do with education.” Sisodia said the file regarding sending teachers to Finland for training will be again sent to the LG.

    “We had sent the file on Finland visit of teachers to LG, and he has asked for a cost-benefit analysis if such a programme can be done in India,” he claimed, adding, “The prime minister and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states will go to World Economic Forum.

    Will that also be stopped on the pretext of cost-benefit analysis?” 

  • SC dismisses Sisodia’s plea seeking to quash defamation case filed by Himanta Sarma

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: “If you reduce public debate to this level, you have to face the consequences,” the Supreme Court said on Monday while hearing a petition by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia challenging the Gauhati High Court order dismissing his plea for quashing a criminal defamation case filed against him by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

    The high court had dismissed Sisodia’s petition seeking quashing of the defamation case filed by Sarma over allegations of corruption levelled against him by the Delhi deputy CM.

    After the apex court showed its disinclination to entertain Sisodia’s plea against the November 4 order of the high court, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader withdrew it.

    Sarma had filed a criminal defamation case against Sisodia for making “baseless” corruption allegations against him in connection with the supply of PPE kits at “higher than market rates” to the National Health Mission (NHM) authorities during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The AAP leader had claimed that Sarma, as the state health minister in 2020, had given the supply orders to the firm of his wife. Sarma has denied these allegations.

    The matter came up for hearing on Monday before a bench comprising Justices S K Kaul and A S Oka.

    Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, said the AAP leader had nowhere said any money was taken.

    “If you reduce public debate to this level, you have to face the consequences,” the bench observed, adding the petitioner should have unconditionally apologised earlier.

    Singhvi said one cannot use the authority to “browbeat” others and that the petitioner had never said any money was taken.

    “You have to face the consequences,” the top court asserted, adding the allegations were made during the pandemic.

    The apex court observed that instead of realising what the country was going through during the pandemic, the petitioner was making allegations.

    Singhvi later withdrew the petition.

    After the hearing, advocate Nalin Kohli, who was representing the Assam government, said, “Essentially, while issuing summons, a court has to see whether a prima facie case exists with regard to false imputations which are per se defamatory.”

    In its order, the high court had said Sisodia has not been able to make out any case for quashing of the proceedings in the matter which is pending for disposal before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup, at Guwahati.

    The high court had noted Sarma filed the complaint alleging that on June 4 this year Sisodia addressed a press conference in New Delhi where he made a defamatory statement against the Assam chief minister accusing him of indulging in corruption.

    It took note of Sarma’s complaint about Sisodia accusing him of corruption in giving government contract to his wife’s company for purchasing PPE kits.

    It was alleged that while such PPE kits were purchased from others for Rs 600 apiece, the same was bought from the company owned by Sarma’s wife at the rate of Rs 990 per kit.

    The high court had noted the chief judicial magistrate had in August this year found sufficient ground to proceed against Sisodia and issued summons to him.

    Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of the Assam chief minister, had on June 21 filed a Rs 100-crore defamation case against the Delhi Deputy CM over the same allegation.

    NEW DELHI: “If you reduce public debate to this level, you have to face the consequences,” the Supreme Court said on Monday while hearing a petition by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia challenging the Gauhati High Court order dismissing his plea for quashing a criminal defamation case filed against him by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

    The high court had dismissed Sisodia’s petition seeking quashing of the defamation case filed by Sarma over allegations of corruption levelled against him by the Delhi deputy CM.

    After the apex court showed its disinclination to entertain Sisodia’s plea against the November 4 order of the high court, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader withdrew it.

    Sarma had filed a criminal defamation case against Sisodia for making “baseless” corruption allegations against him in connection with the supply of PPE kits at “higher than market rates” to the National Health Mission (NHM) authorities during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The AAP leader had claimed that Sarma, as the state health minister in 2020, had given the supply orders to the firm of his wife. Sarma has denied these allegations.

    The matter came up for hearing on Monday before a bench comprising Justices S K Kaul and A S Oka.

    Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, said the AAP leader had nowhere said any money was taken.

    “If you reduce public debate to this level, you have to face the consequences,” the bench observed, adding the petitioner should have unconditionally apologised earlier.

    Singhvi said one cannot use the authority to “browbeat” others and that the petitioner had never said any money was taken.

    “You have to face the consequences,” the top court asserted, adding the allegations were made during the pandemic.

    The apex court observed that instead of realising what the country was going through during the pandemic, the petitioner was making allegations.

    Singhvi later withdrew the petition.

    After the hearing, advocate Nalin Kohli, who was representing the Assam government, said, “Essentially, while issuing summons, a court has to see whether a prima facie case exists with regard to false imputations which are per se defamatory.”

    In its order, the high court had said Sisodia has not been able to make out any case for quashing of the proceedings in the matter which is pending for disposal before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup, at Guwahati.

    The high court had noted Sarma filed the complaint alleging that on June 4 this year Sisodia addressed a press conference in New Delhi where he made a defamatory statement against the Assam chief minister accusing him of indulging in corruption.

    It took note of Sarma’s complaint about Sisodia accusing him of corruption in giving government contract to his wife’s company for purchasing PPE kits.

    It was alleged that while such PPE kits were purchased from others for Rs 600 apiece, the same was bought from the company owned by Sarma’s wife at the rate of Rs 990 per kit.

    The high court had noted the chief judicial magistrate had in August this year found sufficient ground to proceed against Sisodia and issued summons to him.

    Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of the Assam chief minister, had on June 21 filed a Rs 100-crore defamation case against the Delhi Deputy CM over the same allegation.

  • Sisodia will have to ‘face the music’ in Excise policy ‘scam’ case, says BJP

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Saturday claimed that the AAP used the Delhi Excise policy to “receive kickbacks” and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who was “instrumental” in framing it will “face the music and the law”.

    Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy have been weaving stories through press conferences to spread a “lie” that there was no “scam” in the implementation of the excise policy and that Sisodia was innocent, alleged BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra.

    An immediate reaction was not available from the AAP on the issue.

    “The probe against Sisodia is underway and the allegations against him are very serious,” Patra said at a press conference citing the remand note of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) presented in a court recently against a liquor “scam” accused Amit Arora.

    A case against Sisodia and several other persons was registered by the CBI in August this year over the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Excise Policy 2021-22.

    The policy implemented in November 2021 was scrapped by the Kejriwal government after the CBI probe into it was recommended by Delhi LG VK Saxena.

    A study of the excise policy leaves no one in doubt that Sisodia will have to “face the music and the law”, Patra claimed.

    Citing the remand note, Patra said Sisodia along with top Excise officials who are suspended now, were “instrumental” in framing the Excise policy without required approvals to provide “undue benefits” to liquor licensees.

    “The excise policy was a device used by the AAP to receive kickbacks,” he alleged.

    The AAP dispensation had earlier assailed the BJP and its government at the Centre for trying to frame Sisodia and send him behind bars to prevent the good works of the Delhi government.

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Saturday claimed that the AAP used the Delhi Excise policy to “receive kickbacks” and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who was “instrumental” in framing it will “face the music and the law”.

    Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy have been weaving stories through press conferences to spread a “lie” that there was no “scam” in the implementation of the excise policy and that Sisodia was innocent, alleged BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra.

    An immediate reaction was not available from the AAP on the issue.

    “The probe against Sisodia is underway and the allegations against him are very serious,” Patra said at a press conference citing the remand note of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) presented in a court recently against a liquor “scam” accused Amit Arora.

    A case against Sisodia and several other persons was registered by the CBI in August this year over the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Excise Policy 2021-22.

    The policy implemented in November 2021 was scrapped by the Kejriwal government after the CBI probe into it was recommended by Delhi LG VK Saxena.

    A study of the excise policy leaves no one in doubt that Sisodia will have to “face the music and the law”, Patra claimed.

    Citing the remand note, Patra said Sisodia along with top Excise officials who are suspended now, were “instrumental” in framing the Excise policy without required approvals to provide “undue benefits” to liquor licensees.

    “The excise policy was a device used by the AAP to receive kickbacks,” he alleged.

    The AAP dispensation had earlier assailed the BJP and its government at the Centre for trying to frame Sisodia and send him behind bars to prevent the good works of the Delhi government.

  • Gauhati HC refuses to quash Assam CM’s criminal defamation case against Sisodia

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court refused to quash a criminal defamation suit filed against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

    The court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup had earlier sent a summons to the Aam Aadmi Party leader for a personal appearance but he moved the High Court.

    The High Court’s rejection of his plea reinstated the order of the lower court. He will have to appear before it on November 19. The case pertains to Sisodia’s comments on an alleged PPE kits scam, involving the Assam CM’s family.

    Assam’s Advocate General Devajit Saikia told journalists the lower court had sent a summons to Sisodia for a personal appearance but he moved the High Court challenging the lower court’s order for criminal proceedings against him.

    Justice Kalyan Rai Surana of the High Court rejected Sisodia’s plea for quashing of the proceedings. “The Court is of the considered opinion that the petitioner has not been able to make out any case for quashing of the proceedings of CR Case under sections 499/500 IPC, which is pending for disposal before the Court of the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (M) at Guwahati. Thus, this petition fails and the same is dismissed,” the court said in its order.

    Sarma filed the suit on June 30, days after his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma filed a Rs 100 crore defamation suit in the court of civil judge, Kamrup (Metro) against Sisodia on the same issue.

    Referring to a media report, Sisodia had accused Sarma of indulging in corruption by awarding contracts for PPE kits and other Covid-related items to his wife and son’s business partners.

    The AAP leader had asked why the firm linked to Sarma’s wife was awarded the contract at Rs 990 per PPE kit when another firm was given only Rs 600 for the same on the same day in 2020. Sarma was then Assam’s health minister.

    Sarma immediately hit back at Sisodia. “Stop sermonising and I will see you soon in Guwahati as you will face criminal defamation,” he stated. Assam’s Chief Minster and his wife have dismissed the charges. They said the PPE kits were “gifted” to the National Health Mission, Assam and no bill was raised.READ | Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma sues Sisodia for criminal defamation

    GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court refused to quash a criminal defamation suit filed against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

    The court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup had earlier sent a summons to the Aam Aadmi Party leader for a personal appearance but he moved the High Court.

    The High Court’s rejection of his plea reinstated the order of the lower court. He will have to appear before it on November 19. The case pertains to Sisodia’s comments on an alleged PPE kits scam, involving the Assam CM’s family.

    Assam’s Advocate General Devajit Saikia told journalists the lower court had sent a summons to Sisodia for a personal appearance but he moved the High Court challenging the lower court’s order for criminal proceedings against him.

    Justice Kalyan Rai Surana of the High Court rejected Sisodia’s plea for quashing of the proceedings. “The Court is of the considered opinion that the petitioner has not been able to make out any case for quashing of the proceedings of CR Case under sections 499/500 IPC, which is pending for disposal before the Court of the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (M) at Guwahati. Thus, this petition fails and the same is dismissed,” the court said in its order.

    Sarma filed the suit on June 30, days after his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma filed a Rs 100 crore defamation suit in the court of civil judge, Kamrup (Metro) against Sisodia on the same issue.

    Referring to a media report, Sisodia had accused Sarma of indulging in corruption by awarding contracts for PPE kits and other Covid-related items to his wife and son’s business partners.

    The AAP leader had asked why the firm linked to Sarma’s wife was awarded the contract at Rs 990 per PPE kit when another firm was given only Rs 600 for the same on the same day in 2020. Sarma was then Assam’s health minister.

    Sarma immediately hit back at Sisodia. “Stop sermonising and I will see you soon in Guwahati as you will face criminal defamation,” he stated. Assam’s Chief Minster and his wife have dismissed the charges. They said the PPE kits were “gifted” to the National Health Mission, Assam and no bill was raised.READ | Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma sues Sisodia for criminal defamation