Deepak Sisodia (38), accused of helping the shooters of MiD DAY Editor (Special Investigations) J Dey acquire a gun, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking bail.
He has alleged that the only piece of evidence linking him to the crime is his own confession, which he implies was given under duress. Sisodia also mentioned that during interrogation the police removed his prosthetic limb in an attempt to coerce the confession. The special MCOCA court had rejected Sisodia’s bail application in April.u00a0
ADVERTISEMENT
According to his bail application, filed by advocates Pooja Bhojne and Nitin Sejpal, the only evidence tying Sisodia to the conspiracy is his own confessional statement, recorded on August 3, 2011 before the Chief Metropolitan Magis-trate. Sisodia had been picked up from Haldwani, Nainital on July 19, 2011.
‘Not an accused’
The chargesheet states that Nainsingh Bisht and Sisodia had provided the revolver to Satish Kalia, who ultimately killed Dey. However, Bisht is currently absconding. Subsequently, Sisodia is said to have received a call from a person identified only as ‘Sahil’, informing him that Kalia had successfully murdered someone in Mumbai.
According to the bail application, apart from Sisodia’s statement, there is nothing to corroborate the prosecution’s case that he is involved in the murder. ‘At best, Sisodia is a prosecution witness, and not an accused,’ the application added.
The bail application also states that Sisodia, a diabetic, had to have his right leg amputated below the knee shortly before his arrest. He also has to receive two shot everyday for the pain. Medical reports attached to the application support the claim that Sisodia is ‘80% handicapped’.
Police torture
Sisodia has also implied that police removed his prosthetic limb during interrogation in an attempt to coerce a confession statement out of him, a statement that he subsequently recanted in court.
The application is slated to come up for hearing before Justice AM Thipsay of the Bombay High Court in September.u00a0