The Delhi Rouse Avenue Court today extended the judicial custody of AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia till May 31 in the liquor policy case.
Manish Sisodia has been in custody since February 26, 2023, after arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Thereafter, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The former Deputy Chief Minister resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.
The Delhi Court on May 15 had extended the judicial custody of the AAP leader till May 30 in the same case. Kaveri Baweja, Special judge for CBI and ED also fixed May 30 for further arguments on framing of charges in the case.
She noted that an application for postponement of arguments on the charge is pending before the high court. Manish Sisodia and other accused persons in custody were produced before the court through video-conferencing from prison.
Earlier on April 30, the Delhi Court dismissed the bail pleas of Manish Sisodia in corruption and money laundering cases, lodged by the CBI and the ED in relation to the alleged scam. The court had reserved the judgment after hearing arguments from the CBI and ED as well as the counsel appearing for Sisodia.
The investigation agencies had alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy, and undue favours were extended to licence holders. The nodal agency further mentioned that the licence fee was waived or reduced and the L-1 licence was extended without the competent authority’s approval.The ED added that the beneficiaries diverted illegal gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection.
The AAP led Delhi government implemented the policy on November 17, 2021, but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also arrested in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the now-scrapped liquor policy, and is out on interim bail till June 2.