New Delhi (Agency): In the spirit of Independence Day, Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi expressed her hopes and wishes for the release of Manish Sisodia, who has been detained for 170 days.
Taking to social media platform X, formerly recognized as Twitter, Atishi conveyed her sentiments, stating, “Even today on Independence Day, the fight for freedom against the tyranny of a few continues. Manish Sisodia ji has made the future of lakhs of children of Delhi. Today it has been 170 days since he was forcibly sent to jail without any reason. Happy Independence Day Sir. Hope you come out soon.”
Manish Sisodia, a pivotal figure in Delhi’s political scenario, has been in the limelight since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) detained him in February 2023. The arrest stemmed from allegations related to irregularities in the design and execution of Delhi’s new excise policy. This move sparked considerable controversy, with the Opposition leveling charges of misconduct, eventually leading to the policy’s retraction.
The central point of contention revolves around Sisodia’s purported involvement in these irregularities. The CBI alleges that he was “heavily involved in both the creation and implementation of the aforementioned policy.” They further claim that Sisodia was the cornerstone of the so-called criminal conspiracy, suggesting that he played a pivotal role to ensure the conspiracy’s objectives were met.
Recent developments in the case saw the Supreme Court declining to offer Sisodia any temporary relief. Instead, they scheduled his petition for regular and interim release for the week starting September 4. A panel comprising of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti has called for a comprehensive hearing in September. They specifically requested that the investigation agency deliver a clear explanation concerning the case’s financial dealings and its overall operational decisions.
The court, while examining the details, noted a lack of clarity in the information provided about the financial aspects of the case. They explicitly asked for Additional Solicitor General SV Raju to illuminate all facets of the money trail involved in the case. The court found that the agency’s affidavit did not supply them with precise illustrations of these elements, leading to the Enforcement Directorate being granted additional time to submit a new affidavit in relation to this case.
While the case is set to progress in the coming weeks, the public sentiment around Sisodia’s arrest continues to be charged with emotion, especially with influential figures like Atishi voicing their support and hope for his release.
Amidst the celebrations and patriotic fervor of Independence Day, the case serves as a stark reminder of ongoing political and judicial battles that are yet to reach their conclusion.