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New Delhi: On Tuesday, the court extended the judicial custody of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader Manisha Sisodia till December 11 in connection with an alleged excise policy scam. This extension was given in light of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) pending submission of documents for the defendants, according to the information. While hearing the matter on Tuesday, the court observed that several documents are yet to be filed by the Enforcement Directorate for the accused persons.
The CBI detained Sisodia in February 2023 due to alleged irregularities in the creation and implementation of Delhi’s updated excise policy. According to the report, the court underlined during the hearing how urgently attorneys must complete Section 207 compliance under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). This would make it easier for the matter’s trial to start.
Amidst accusations of impropriety from the opposition, this policy was rescinded. Sisodia is currently in judicial custody. According to the CBI, Sisodia had played the most important and vital role in the criminal conspiracy, and he had been deeply involved in the formulation as well as the implementation of the said policy to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the said conspiracy.
However, the court also issued notice to the ED and fixed for hearing the arguments on November 24, on the interim bail plea of Benoy Babu. Binoy worked as a general manager with a liquor company and was arrested by ED in November, last year. The CBI claimed that Sisodia actively participated in the creation and implementation of the policy, which was in line with the goals of the alleged criminal conspiracy. Sisodia was said to have played a major role in the conspiracy, the report added.
Recently, the Supreme Court dismissed Sisodia’s bail plea in connection with the cases pertaining to the excise policy scam. “We have dismissed the bail plea of Manish Sisodia,” the court had said. Earlier, Sisodia had moved to the top court for bail in CBI and ED cases, challenging the Delhi HC order rejecting his bail plea. The HC had denied him bail in both matters.
