The Rouse Avenue court extended the judicial custody of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia until December 11. The extension is related to his alleged involvement in an excise policy scam. The court, during the hearing, emphasized that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has yet to file several documents concerning the accused persons.
Expressing dissatisfaction, the court urged the lawyers to promptly complete the compliance of Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). This step is crucial to initiate the trial proceedings in the matter at the earliest.
Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in February 2023, following allegations of irregularities in the framing and implementation of Delhi’s new excise policy. The policy faced withdrawal amid claims of foul play by the Opposition, and Sisodia is currently held in judicial custody.
According to the CBI, Sisodia played a pivotal role in the criminal conspiracy, actively participating in the formulation and implementation of the controversial policy to fulfil the objectives of the said conspiracy.
Simultaneously, the court issued a notice to the ED and scheduled the hearing for arguments on November 24 regarding the interim bail plea of Benoy Babu. Babu, a former general manager with a liquor company, was arrested by the ED in November of the previous year.