Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia custody hearing [LIVE UPDATES from Rouse Avenue Court]

A Delhi Court is hearing the case relating to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Special CBI judge MK Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court had, on Monday, remanded Sisodia to CBI custody till today in the case after he was arrested on Sunday evening in connection with the 2021 Excise policy.Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after an interrogation that lasted nearly eight hours.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 Friday, Sisodia has filed for bail before the Rouse Avenue Court.The CBI has alleged that Sisodia and other members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) granted liquor licenses to certain traders in exchange for bribes.It has been alleged that the policy was tweaked in a manner that benefited certain traders and kickbacks were received in exchange for the same.Live updates from the hearing below..Sisodia will be produced before Special CBI judge MK Nagpal..Several AAP activists are protesting near the court.Police force and Rapid Action Force deployed near the court..Sisodia is produced. The court is yet to assemble..Judge is here. Court is hearing another matter related to excise policy case..Sisodia's lawyers: Senior Advocates Dayan Krishnan and Mohit Mathur are present in court. Hearing to begin shortly.SPP Pankaj Gupta appears for CBI..Hearing starts..Judge: Why do you need more custody? You had asked five days we gave you. CBI: He is still non-cooperative..CBI: We also need to examine some more people. Judge: Kitna time interrogate kiya? CBI: Almost daily. He had moved Supreme Court also, a lot of time was wasted in that. We need three more days..CBI: We are trying to utilising the custody granted.Judge: How many hours you have questioned him?.Sr Adv Krishnan: Please refer to your order, Sir. Paragraph 10..Sr Adv Krishnan: Please look at the remand application. What is the difference between day 1 and today? At the end of the day, non-cooperation cannot be a ground for remand..Sr Adv Krishnan: They cannot say we will wait till he confesses. They should have completed the investigation. Their failure to complete investigation can't be a ground for remand..Judge: We will see with whom he has been confronted. CBI: We can't disclose the names publically, but it's there in the documents..Sr Adv Krishnan: Raids have been conducted at my residence and Delhi Police. So many months I was outside, suddenly they come and say we will trace all these documents..Sr Adv Krishnan: The Supreme Court judgemnets and Delhi High Court rules contemplate that remand is an exception..Judge: You have already challenged the grounds for remand. Sr Adv Mathur: There is some miscommunication. Supreme Court plea was for quashing of FIR..Judge: You must have talked about the arrest and remand also. Sr Adv Krishnan: We went to Supreme Court, and Supreme Court said you approach High Court. It can't be put against me..Judge: Remand order you can challenge before High Court. If you think this was not warranted, you could have gone to High Court. Sr Adv Krishnan: That is not my argument. I am saying the remand should not be extended..Sr Adv Krishnan: An order of police remand is an exception and not the rule..Sr Adv Krishnan: When you grant remand for second time, the scales would be higher and scrutiny greater..Sr Adv Mohit Mathur: We have placed a judgement..Sr Adv Mathur: High Court has said that every remand has to be justified. Technically under law, only 24 hours are given to them..Sr Adv Mathur: The High Court has said that at the time of remand, consideration of bail is automatic..Sr Adv Mathur: In this case, while considering all these things, my wife's medical condition has been brushed aside. She is basically a vegetable and her body is degenerating..Sr Adv Mathur: Harping on one line that he is not disclosing true facts. This was their reason for arrest and remand. What stops them from coming three days later and then ask for further custody. There has to be some estoppel on this..Sr Adv Mathur: The fact that we moved SC can't be held against me..Sr Adv Mathur: If you ever get the chance to read the High Court judgement, the CBI should come prepared with arguments on bail while moving remand..Judge: Anything else?.Sr Adv Mathur: We have also filed bail application.CBI: We will need 15 days to reply to that. Holi festival is there. Sr Adv Mathur: They should release us for festival as well. I will be back on March 9..Sr Adv Mathur: My liberty is at stake..Court lists bail hearing on March 10 at 2pm. CBI to furnish its reply by then..Judge rises. Order on remand will be out in half an hour..Court extends former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's CBI custody by two more days..Sisodia addresses the court. They are asking the same questions again and again. It is mental harassment..Sisodia: They are not using third degree. But sitting for eight to nine hours and answering same questions again and again, that too, is mental harassment..Court to CBI: Please don't ask same questions again and again. If you have something new ask him..Court: Court further orders CBI to conduct his medical exams at regular intervals.

Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia custody hearing [LIVE UPDATES from Rouse Avenue Court]

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