AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s judicial custody has been extended by Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court until April 6 in the ongoing Delhi Excise Policy case. Sisodia appeared in court today for a hearing related to this case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has strongly opposed Sisodia’s bail plea, citing concerns that high-profile individuals could be arrested and that the ongoing investigation could be compromised.
During the court proceedings, Senior advocate Mathur representing Sisodia argued that while other accused in the case were granted bail, Sisodia’s plea was rejected, despite there being no financial loss to the exchequer or any private individual. Mathur highlighted that the Supreme Court had granted Sisodia liberty based on the assurance that the investigation would conclude within 6-8 months.
On the opposing side, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Pankaj Gupta argued that the accused, including Sisodia, were causing delays in the trial process, and there were concerns about potential influence on witnesses and obstruction of the investigation. Gupta emphasized the need to dismiss Sisodia’s bail application.
In a related development, the Enforcement Directorate revealed allegations that Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha colluded with top leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, in obtaining favorable outcomes in the formulation and implementation of Delhi’s Excise policy. The Enforcement Directorate claimed that Kavitha was involved in paying Rs 100 crore to AAP leaders in exchange for these favors.
The court proceedings and allegations against AAP leaders have intensified the scrutiny and public attention on the Delhi Excise Policy case, with the judicial custody extension for Manish Sisodia highlighting the ongoing legal battles surrounding this issue.
