Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday remanded Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia to judicial custody till April 5 in the money laundering case initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to the Delhi excise policy scam.
Special judge MK Nagpal passed the order. “We will send him to judicial custody till April 5,” he stated.
Sisodia sought to be allowed to carry some books including Bhagwad Geeta to prison.
“You move an application, we will allow,” the judge replied.
Sisodia was detained on February 26 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the liquor policy case and is currently in judicial custody in the matter. He was detained by the CBI till March 6. He was then sent to judicial custody.
On March 10, he was remanded to ED custody for a week. On March 17, the court prolonged his detention for another five days.
It has been claimed that Sisodia and other AAP members conspired to issue liquor licenses to certain retailers in exchange for bribery.
According to the central authorities, the excise policy was altered and profit margins were changed in a way that favoured specific dealers, and bribes were collected in exchange.
After Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena ordered a CBI probe based on a report by the Delhi Chief Secretary, the ED and the CBI started investigations into the suspected fraud. According to the findings, Sisodia broke statutory rules by notifying a policy with major financial ramifications.
Although Sisodia was not included in the CBI’s chargesheet, the investigation remained open against him and others.
The AAP has refuted the charges, claiming that Sisodia is innocent.
According to Sisodia, the policy and the adjustments made to it were approved by the LG, and the CBI is now investigating policy decisions taken by an elected government.
