Manish Sisodia sent to judicial custody till March 20; Delhi court says won't interfere with media reporting, peaceful protests

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Monday remanded Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to judicial custody till March 20 in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. .Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26 and has been under the CBI custody since then. "An application to send the accused to judicial custody has been filed. It is submitted that the police custody is no longer required and the same may be sought later, if required. In view of submission made, the accused is sent to judicial custody till March 20," the Court ordered..Special CBI Judge MK Nagpal also allowed Sisodia's application for providing him with spectacles, Bhagwad Geeta, a diary and a pen inside the prison.The counsel for the CBI did not seek further custody today but said that the agency might do so in future, stating that AAP leaders are politicising the matter and witnesses are "terrified". "We are not seeking custody right now. But we may do in future. Their supporter and media is politicising the matter," the CBI counsel said.The judge then asked whether that can be ground to seek custody. "Witnesses are terrified. Media is giving political colour," the CBI said.Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur, appearing for Sisodia, said that he was appalled by such an argument."I am appalled by submission like this. Are they scared of media?" Mathur asked.The judge also said that he cannot stop media from reporting the matter and as long as protests etc are peaceful, the Court will not be concerned."If media is reporting, they are reporting. As long as protests are peaceful, it is fine," the Court said..The allegation by the CBI against Sisodia and other members of the AAP is that they granted liquor licenses to certain traders in exchange for bribes.It has been alleged that the excise policy was tweaked in a manner that benefited certain traders and kickbacks were received in exchange for the same.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.The matter had travelled to Supreme Court as well when Sisodia challenged his arrest. However, the apex court refused to entertain his plea and asked him to approach the Delhi High Court first..Delhi court extends CBI custody of Manish Sisodia by two days; bail plea to be heard on March 10