Delhi court extends judicial custody of Manish Sisodia till May 12

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday extended judicial custody of AAP leader & former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia till May 12th in the Excise policy case being probed by the CBI.

Special Judge M K Nagpal had reserved the order after hearing arguments on Sisodia's plea seeking relief claiming that his custody was no longer required for investigation.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed the application, asserting the investigation was at a 'crucial' stage and claiming the senior AAP leader had planted fabricated e-mails to show there was public approval for the policy.
The federal agency had also said it has found fresh evidence of his complicity in the alleged crime.

The court had on March 31 dismissed Sisodia's bail application in a corruption case, being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), saying he was 'prima facie the architect' in the criminal conspiracy behind alleged payment of advance kickbacks of around Rs 90-100 crore meant for him and his colleagues in the Delhi government.

The court also noted that there were serious apprehensions of Sisodia destroying evidence or even influencing some prime witnesses in the case, if he were to be released on bail.

Sisodia and others have been accused of manipulating the Delhi Excise Policy to facilitate monopolisation of liquor trade in Delhi.

It has been alleged by the CBI that this was done against the advance kickbacks of around Rs 90 crore paid by persons carrying out the liquor business from South India.

To ensure repayment of the said kickbacks, certain provisions in the Excise Policy were inserted to favour the "South lobby" and other members of the cartel, the CBI had alleged.