Delhi Excise Policy Case: Court Directs CBI for Detailed Status Report in Sealed Cover

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a comprehensive status report on the ongoing investigation in the Delhi Excise policy case, to be filed in a sealed cover.

This directive came in response to the defense counsel’s objection regarding the incomplete disclosure of the investigation status.

Special judge M K Nagpal instructed the CBI to file the detailed status report by the next hearing scheduled for February 22, also extending the judicial custody of Former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia until that date.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reported that the investigation is in progress and at a crucial stage. It noted that the investigation regarding the 16 charge-sheeted accused individuals has been completed, while further investigation is ongoing against the remaining accused and suspects in the case.

The counsel for CBI proposed fixing the matter for arguments on charges, but the defense counsel opposed, emphasizing the incomplete nature of the status report. The defense also mentioned the recent receipt of translated copies of supplied documents and requested time for scrutiny, highlighting the impracticality of arguing charges without the completion of the investigation.

The court, in response, directed the CBI to install the necessary software on the laptops of defense counsels to access case-related files. This development follows the Rouse Avenue court’s previous call for a fresh status report from the CBI on January 19, where a compliance report was filed, stating that a set of DVDs containing charge sheets and relied-upon documents had been provided to the counsel for the accused.

The Supreme Court of India had earlier dismissed the bail application of Sisodia, with his previous bail attempts denied by both the High Court and the trial court. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) subsequently arresting him on March 9. The ED alleges that the activities of the accused, Manish Sisodia, led to the generation of proceeds of crime amounting to around Rs 622 crore.