Delhi Excise Scam: CBI to File Fresh Supplementary Chargesheet Against Manish Sisodia

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed a Delhi court on Tuesday that it is in the process of filing a fresh supplementary charge sheet in connection with a case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam involving AAP leader Manish Sisodia and others.

The CBI’s statement came in response to a query posed by Special Judge M K Nagpal regarding whether the matter should be scheduled for arguments on framing of charges.

The CBI’s response was negative, indicating that the investigation is still ongoing. The agency clarified that a report will be submitted upon the completion of the investigation.

Advocate Nitesh Rana, representing Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramachandra Pillai, a co-accused in the case, also stated that the case should not be set for charge arguments as the verification of documents supplied to the accused by the CBI remains incomplete.

Meanwhile, the judge approved an application submitted by Sisodia, who was present in court, to allocate funds from his MLA fund for developmental work in his Patparganj constituency. The CBI did not oppose this application.

As per the CBI’s assertions, Pillai had close ties with Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha. Kavitha, the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was interrogated by the CBI in connection with the case. The agency has alleged that irregularities occurred during the modification of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, resulting in undue benefits to license holders. The Delhi government introduced the excise policy on November 17, 2021. However, it was revoked by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in July 2022 after the Delhi Lieutenant Governor recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into “norm violations and lapses,” amidst corruption allegations. Sisodia, who was the excise minister during that period, was arrested in February of this year.