NEW DELHI: In another setback to jailed AAP functionary Manish Sisodia, the Delhi high court on Monday refused to grant him interim bail to attend to his ailing wife, in view of the "extremely serious" allegations against him and the possibility of "evidence tampering" in the excise policy case.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.
The judge said, "the court finds it very difficult to persuade itself to release the petitioner on interim bail for six weeks".
Sisodia had sought release on a temporary basis for six weeks contending he was the sole caretaker of his ailing wife.02:34Delhi HC rejects interim bail plea of Manish Sisodia, jailed in excise policy caseSisodia wife to be checked by AIIMS: HC The HC had called for a report from LNJP Hospital on Sisodia's wife at a special hearing last Saturday.
In its order on Monday, 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.The HC also took note of the medical report from LNJP Hospital and said the condition of Sisodia's wife was stable but she required close monitoring.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, who was arrested on March 9, is 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.The ED lawyer also claimed Sisodia's wife has been suffering from such a medical condition for the past 20 years.The high court had earlier rejected Sisodia's bail plea on May 30 in the corruption case filed by the CBI in its excise policy probe, saying he is an influential person and the allegations against him are very serious in nature.
It had highlighted that Sisodia at one time held 18 portfolios and his party remains in power in Delhi and hence the possibility of influencing witnesses, most of whom are public servants, can't be ruled out.The Delhi government had implemented the excise policy on November 17, 2021, but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.