Sisodia only to be produced via video conferencing, says Delhi court
Darpan News Desk IANS, 01 Jun, 2023 11:04 AM
New Delhi, June 1 (IANS) A Delhi court on Thursday ordered that former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia should only be produced via video conferencing during hearings in the ongoing Delhi Excise Policy scam case due to security issues.
During Thursday's hearing as well, the AAP leader was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court through video conferencing after the Delhi Police's request.
This was however, opposed by Sisodia and his counsel.
The court stated that until a decision is made regarding the Delhi Police's application concerning security, Sisodia will be produced through video conferencing.
It then fixed July 19 as the next date of hearing. Sisodia's judicial custody has also been extended to this date.
The counsel appearing for Sisodia alleged that the AAP leader had been mistreated during his previous appearance.
The counsel told the court that his neck was grabbed and was taken away by the police when he was answering questions of media.
The court raised questions about the behavior of the media and expressed displeasure when there was a gathering of people in the courtroom.
The court said that it will also consider the need of putting a ban on media, if needed.
It said that Sisodia will be allowed to meet his family members and counsel only, and he will not meet any outsider.
When Sisodia was asked by special judge M.K. Nagpal whether he should be presented via video conferencing or in person, the AAP leader replied that he wanted to appear physically in court.
The Delhi Police however, had filed an application requesting Sisodia's appearance through video conferencing. It stated that there was a higher risk to security due to the increased crowd during Sisodia's physical presence.
The court said that anyone can come wearing a lawyer's uniform which can lead to security issues during Sisodia's appearance.
Sisodia said that during physical hearing he could meet his lawyers to discuss various things on this the court said that his lawyers were allowed to meet him in lock up room of the court.
The court has directed the authorities concerned to preserve the CCTV footage of the incident in which Sisodia was allegedly heckled and to produce it on the next date of hearing.
Judge Nagpal after taking cognisance of the ED charge sheet had summoned all the accused, including Sisodia, for today's hearing.
The same court had on May 23 extended his judicial custody for the same date in the ED case.
The ED had arrested Sisodia on March 9, after the CBI arrested him on February 26 this year.
Special Public Prosecutor Naveen Kumar Matta filed the charge sheet, which runs into over 2,100 pages.
Earlier the Delhi High Court had also dismissed Sisodia's bail plea in the excise policy case being probed by the CBI.
The judge said that the nature of the allegations is quite serious that the excise policy was formed at the instance of South Group with mala fide intention to give undue advantage to them.
While denying him bail, the judge also said that Sisodia being an influential person can influence witnesses, who are also public servants.
A senior CBI official said that a case was registered against the Ved Prakash, the SI posted at Police Station Jaffarpur Kalan, District Dwarka, Delhi on a complaint. It was alleged that the accused was demanding Rs 50,000 from the victim for helping with a complaint pending against him besides settling a land dispute in his favour.
The Chief Minister said instead of paddy, the farmer of the state is ready to sow sunflower, maize, and pulses but for that they must get adequate and assured price. He said this will help checking the depleting water table in the state, on one hand, and making agriculture a profitable venture on the other.
Two persons injured in a road accident on Tuesday-- Sumit Gaur (21),and Mahboob Siddique (20) -- were declared dead and their bodies were kept at the hospital morgue overnight. When Sumit's relatives arrived at the mortuary to claim the body on Wednesday, they found multiple bite marks on his face. The rats had nibbled the nose, they alleged.
Raids on locations related to Popular Front of India (PFI) are being carried out in eight places in Uttar Pradesh. Mohammad Waseem, resident of Indira Nagar in Lucknow, has been taken away by the NIA sleuths, according to official sources. Waseem runs a tailoring shop and digital documents were recovered from his possession during the raid.
In a statement, the Chief Minister said the government will approach the Supreme Court against the arbitrary and anti-democratic decision of the Governor to cancel the permission of holding a special session of the Vidhan Sabha after giving permission for it. He said it is an unfortunate move and they will move to the apex court against this irrational decision.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Japan on September 27 to attend the state funeral of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. He will also separately meet his counterpart, Fumio Kishida during the visit, it said.
