The Delhi court will today hear the bail plea of Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi. Sisodia was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi Government on 14th June 2017 on charges of alleged tax evasion. His arrest sparked a huge uproar in the political circles of the country, with opposition parties alleging that it was a political vendetta.
Sisodia and his colleagues have been fighting against the central government over the issue of tax policy for the past few months. The central government had issued a notification last year, according to which the ACB of Delhi Government would have no jurisdiction over officers and employees of the central government. This move was widely criticized by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and was termed as an attempt to undermine the authority of the elected government of Delhi.
The entire controversy revolves around the power struggle between the Delhi Government and the central government. The Delhi Government had been demanding control over the ACB as it claimed that the central government was interfering in its functioning. The ACB had initiated a probe against the Delhi government officials for their alleged involvement in corruption and other irregularities.
Sisodia, who is also the finance minister of Delhi, had accused the central government of trying to cripple the Delhi government financially by controlling its sources of revenue. He had alleged that the BJP-led central government had deliberately slowed down the disbursement of funds to the Delhi government, leading to an acute cash crunch. This, he had claimed, was leading to many developmental projects in the city coming to a standstill.
However, the allegations of tax evasion against Sisodia are serious and cannot be brushed away easily. The ACB had claimed that Sisodia, along with several other Delhi Government officials, had allegedly misused their official positions to facilitate tax evasion by certain companies. The officials, it was alleged, had granted several exemptions and concessions to these companies in lieu of bribes.
The investigation into the matter had revealed that Sisodia, as the finance minister, had allegedly misled the Assembly by presenting a financial statement which did not reflect the actual financial position of the government. The ACB had also alleged that Sisodia had deliberately concealed information relating to the utilization of funds under various heads of revenue.
The Delhi Government had vehemently denied the charges and had termed Sisodia’s arrest as politically motivated. It had accused the central government of using the ACB as a tool to stifle the voice of the elected government of Delhi. The AAP had also threatened to launch a nationwide agitation against the BJP-led central government if Sisodia was not released immediately.
However, it remains to be seen whether the court will grant bail to Sisodia today. The charges against him are serious and the case is still under investigation. The court will have to take into consideration all the facts and evidence before arriving at a decision. If Sisodia is found guilty of the charges, it will be a severe blow to the AAP government and will dent its image severely.
The whole tax policy scam has exposed the deep-seated power struggle between the Delhi Government and the central government. The AAP government has accused the BJP-led central government of using its power to curtail the rights of the elected government of Delhi. The centre, on the other hand, has accused the AAP government of indulging in corruption and irregularities.
However, the matter should not be politicized and should be dealt with strictly based on the merits of the case. Both the Delhi Government and the central government should work together to find a solution to the power struggle and find common ground to work in the interest of the people of Delhi.
In conclusion, the bail plea of Manish Sisodia will be a crucial moment in the ongoing power struggle between the Delhi Government and the central government. It is imperative that the court delivers a fair and impartial judgment based on the facts and evidence presented before it. It is also important for both the Delhi Government and the central government to work together to find a solution to this power struggle and to work towards the betterment of the people of Delhi.