Excise scam: CBI opposes Sisodia's bail plea

One-liner: The CBI has opposed before the Delhi HC a bail plea filed by former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, arrested in a Delhi excise policy case, saying he was in a position of power and had political clout.

Controlled several depts: The CBI said the senior AAP leader controlled various depts, including the excise and claimed he wilfully destroyed evidence and mobile phone on the day the present matter was referred by Lt Governor to the CBI.

Missing file: Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the CBI, also referred to a missing file relating to the policy documents saying that the note went missing probably because it contained some noting which was not palatable.

Note destroyed: "Our case is that the note was destroyed or it was made to disappear. We have evidence to show that he was the last person who was handed over this file which contained the cabinet note. He is capable of tampering with the evidence," he said.

• The CBI had arrested Sisodia for alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 on Feb 26, following several rounds of questioning

Bail plea dismissed: On March 31, the trial court dismissed Sisodia's bail plea in the matter, saying he was prima facie the architect of the scam and had played the most important and vital role in the criminal conspiracy related to the alleged payment of advance kickbacks of ₹90-100Cr meant for him and his colleagues in the Delhi govt.

No money trail: The lawyer had said the allegation that he was a recipient of the proceeds of crime was all in the air and no money trail leading to him has been found.