Excise Policy Case: Manish Sisodia’s Judicial Custody Extended Till July 15 (image-X/msisodia)
Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court extended the judicial custody of former deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia till July 15 in the excise policy case on Saturday. Sisodia was the brought to the court today morning for the hearing.
The AAP leader has been in prison for over a year in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. As Excise Minister, Sisodia formulated the liquor policy for Delhi.
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Meanwhile, on Friday, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the CBI regarding the bail plea filed by AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the case. Although initially the high court agreed with the CBI’s contention that Kejriwal should have approached a city court, the bench chose to consider the merits of his direct appeal to the high court.
A hearing has been scheduled for July 17.
Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26 of last year and subsequently by the ED on March 9. He faces allegations from the ED, claiming that activities associated with him generated proceeds of crime totaling Rs 622 crore. Shortly after his arrest, Sisodia resigned from the Delhi cabinet.
Both the High Court and the trial court turned down his previous bail applications on May 30 of the preceding year. On October 30, the top court dismissed his bail petition, citing the tentative establishment of at least one charge of windfall gains amounting to Rs 338 crore made by wholesalers.
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The agencies investigating the matter stated that the revised policy significantly increased the profit margin from 5 percent to 12 percent for wholesalers.
They further contend that the policy fostered cartelization, favouring individuals ineligible for liquor licenses in pursuit of financial gains. Both the Delhi government and Sisodia said that the revised policy was intended to boost the government’s revenue.
