The Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the CBI case alleging corruption in the implementation of excise policy for 2021-22.

The single-headed bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma pronounced the order. The court had reserved the decision on May 11

"The allegations are very serious in nature that the excise policy was formed at the instance of South Group with mala fide intention to give undue advantage to them. Such conduct points towards the misconduct of the applicant who was admittedly a public servant and was holding a very high position," Justice Sharma said.

Seeking regular bail in the CBI case, Sisodia had argued that no evidence of a money trail has been found from him by the central agency in the alleged liquor policy scam case and that the allegations against him are “in the realm of likelihood.”

Opposing Sisodia’s bail plea, the probe agency said that the matter involves a “deep-rooted and multi-layered conspiracy” in which Sisodia, who allegedly remained non-cooperative and evasive during the investigation, is a key link to unearth the modus operand.

The court added Sisodia being an influential person and having held the post of Deputy CM with 18 portfolios and the witnesses mostly being public servants, there is a possibility of witnesses being influenced cannot be ruled out