We respect SC, but don't agree with order dismissing Manish Sisodia's bail plea: Atishi
New Delhi (PTI): AAP leader Atishi on Monday said the party and its leaders respect the Supreme Court but do not agree with its order dismissing former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia's bail plea and will explore further legal options.
In a setback to Sisodia, the SC earlier in the day rejected his regular bail pleas in corruption and money-laundering cases related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam and said the transfer of Rs 338 crore was tentatively established in the matter.
A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice SVN Bhatti said it has recorded the statements of the probe agencies that the trial in these cases will conclude in six to eight months.
But if the trial proceeds in a "sloppy manner", Sisodia will be at liberty to apply for bail in these cases in three months, the bench said.
Addressing a press conference here after the order, Atishi said the court has given an "adverse order" despite making sharp observations against probe agencies.
"While his bail plea was being heard, the Supreme Court constantly asked the ED tough questions like where is the money trail. The apex court also pointed out that the case is based on the statement of one approver Dinesh Arora," she said.
"Despite these sharp observations, the SC gave an adverse verdict. We will study that order deeply and explore our legal options and decide our next step," she added.
Atishi, a cabinet minister in Delhi, said they respect the Supreme Court but are "not in agreement" with the order.
She also reiterated that the AAP is an honest party and till now none of its leaders has been found involved in corruption.
"The entire country is watching how the BJP is using agencies like the ED and the CBI to target opposition parties," she added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Car catches fire on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan, five of family burnt alive
Jaipur (PTI): Five members of a family were burnt alive while the driver was seriously injured after a car caught fire on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan's Alwar district, police said on Thursday.
The incident took place near Maujpur on Wednesday night when the victims were returning from a pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir.
Additional Superintendent of Police Priyanka Raghuvanshi said fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was brought under control in 15 minutes, but by then the car was completely gutted.
The deceased have been identified as Santosh, his wife Shashi, mother Parvati and daughters Raghani and Sakshi, all residents of Chainpura in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Kailash Jindal said a short circuit is suspected to have triggered the blaze. As it was a CNG vehicle, the fire spread fast, leaving the occupants with no time to escape.
"Only skeletal remains were recovered from the vehicle, which have been preserved separately. DNA tests will be conducted to establish their identity," he said.
The car driver, identified as Vinod Kumar Mehar, managed to jump out of the vehicle but sustained around 80 per cent burn injuries. He was initially taken to a nearby health centre and later referred to Jaipur for advanced treatment, officials said.
Further investigation is underway.
