Excise policy: Delhi court extends judicial custody of Manish Sisodia in CBI case till May 30
New Delhi: A special court on Wednesday extended till May 30 the judicial custody of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a corruption case related to the alleged excise policy scam.
Sisodia was produced before special court via videoconferencing from Tihar Jail
Special judge for CBI and ED Kaveri Baweja extended the judicial custody of Sisodia after he was produced before the court via videoconferencing from Tihar Jail after the expiry of the earlier remand.
The special court also fixed May 30 for further arguments on framing of charges in the corruption case.
The court noted that a plea for postponement of arguments on the charge is pending before the Delhi High Court.
Sisodia is facing charges of corruption and money laundering registered by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) respectively in connection with alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-defunct Delhi Excise Policy.
CBI arrested Sisodia in corruption case in February last year
Sisodia was first arrested by the CBI in the corruption case in February last year and the ED later arrested him in the money laundering case from Tihar Jail. Currently, he is lodged in judicial custody in Tihar Jail in CBI and ED cases.
The central investigating agencies have alleged that Sisodia, being the Deputy Chief Minister and a key figure in the AAP, played a key role in tweaking the excise policy to help private liquor players gain illegal benefits in lieu of kickbacks to the AAP.
High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on Sisodia’s bail pleas in CBI, ED cases
The High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the bail pleas of Sisodia in CBI and ED cases. Earlier, the trial court rejecting his bail pleas in both cases.
Earlier, the trial court, High Court and the Supreme Court rejected his bail pleas in both the CBI and ED cases. The Supreme Court, however, in its order passed in October last year, granted Sisodia liberty to move to the trial court and file a fresh bail plea in next three months if there is a change of circumstances or trial in the cases are protracted and proceeds at a snail’s pace.