Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia resigns after SC refuses to entertain his petition

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 28

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s petition challenging his arrest and CBI custody in the Delhi excise case, leading to his resignation from the Arvind Kejriwal-led Government.

Minutes after a Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud declined to entertain his petition, Sisodia and another minister Satyendar Jain – who was arrested in May last year in a money laundering case—tendered their resignations.

Chief Minister Kejriwal accepted their resignations, a Delhi government spokesperson said.

A Delhi court on Monday sent Sisodia to CBI remand for five days for custodial interrogation in the excise policy case.

The Bench said just because the incident has happened in Delhi, Sisodia cannot come to the top court directly as he has his remedies before the trial court concerned as well as the Delhi High Court.

“Since the petitioner (Sisodia) has efficacious alternate remedies available under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, we are not inclined to entertain the petition under Article 32 of the Constitution, at this stage,” said the Bench which also included Justice PS Narasimha.

On behalf of Sisodia, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi questioned the need to arrest the senior AAP leader, saying policy decisions were taken at different rung and no money was recovered. The Delhi Lt Governor was also part of the policy decision, Singhvi submitted.

However, the top court refused to entertain his petition.