Hours after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders expressed their concern over the threat to the life of Manish Sisodia in Tihar Jail, the administration on Thursday denied any such possibility citing the former Deputy Chief Minister was lodged in a separate cell where he could meditate without any disturbance.
The jail authorities have released a statement stating, “Under-trial prisoner Manish Sisodia has been assigned to a segregated ward keeping his security in mind. The ward of CJ-1, where he is lodged has a minimum number of inmates who are not gangsters and are maintaining good conduct inside the jail.”
“A separate cell makes it possible for him to meditate or do other activities without any disturbance. All the arrangements, as per Jail Rules, are in place to ensure his safety and security. Any aspersions cast about his lodgings are unfounded,” read the statement.
On Wednesday, two AAP leaders – Sanjay Singh, and Saurabh Bhardwaj – alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched by BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) to murder Manish Sisodia in jail as he was kept alongside hardened criminals.
Sisodia was sent for 14 days of judicial custody on Monday. He is lodged in jail number 1 of Tihar Jail. He was arrested by CBI in connection with the already scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
AAP Chief Spokesperson and MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj were first accused by the BJP-led central government of hatching a conspiracy to endanger Shri Manish Sisodia’s life. He questioned the jail administration’s move of lodging the former Deputy CM in Jail No. 1, despite the court order to lodge him in a Vipassana (meditation) Cell.
Bhardwaj highlighted that the Delhi court had clearly directed that Manish Sisodia should be lodged in a cell where he can do Vipassana meditation. “However, the BJP-led government has deliberately housed him with the most hardened criminals in Tihar Jail. This is a clear sign of the government’s vindictive attitude towards its political rivals,” he said.
He emphasised that the prisoners in Jail No. 1 have a history of violent incidents, and many of them are mentally ill. They have multiple murder cases going on against them already, and the addition of another murder case would not matter to them much. “This raises serious concerns about Shri Manish Sisodia’s safety and security,” the AAP Chief Spokesperson said.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh also said Shri Sanjay Singh asked if it was right of the BJP-led Central Government to keep a person who is lauded for transforming the education sector of Delhi and providing a ray of hope to over 20 lakh children of Delhi. He asked why Shri Manish Sisodia has been kept in the same cell in which the country’s most dangerous and most dreaded prisoners are lodged. He further asked why was such enmity being shown by PM Narendra Modi towards Shri Manish Sisodia.
The AAP party also released a statement: “It is unfortunate that Modi Govt is forcing the Jail Administration to defy various orders and standard operating procedures of Jail. It is well-known fact that hardened criminals, well-known gangsters, and repeat offenders are lodged in Jail no 1. Why is Central Govt hellbent that these hardened criminals having easy access to Manish Ji? Why is Central Govt risking the life of Dy CM of Delhi ?”
“This is also a fact that in spite of Court Orders, Manish Ji has not been kept in Vipassana Cell. This is also a fact that Jail no 1 does not have Vipasana Cell. Can Jail administration deny this fact ?,” it added.