Delhi Excise scam: Court extends Manish Sisodia's custody till April 17

A Delhi court on Monday extended judicial custody of Delhi's former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia till 17 April, in CBI's case related to alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped excise policy.

The probe agency moved an application in the court seeking an extension of the AAP leader's judicial custody, saying that the investigation is at a "crucial stage".

On March 31, a special CBI court dismissed Sisodia's bail plea in the excise policy scam, saying he was "prima facie the architect" and played the "most important and vital role" in the criminal conspiracy relating to alleged payment of advance kickbacks of around Rs 90-100 crore, meant for him and his colleagues in the Delhi government.

"The evidence collected so far clearly shows that the applicant through the co-accused Vijay Nair was in contact with the South lobby and formulation of a favourable policy for them was being ensured at every cost and a cartel was permitted to be formed to achieve monopoly in sale of certain liquor brands of favoured manufacturers and it was permitted to be done against very objectives of the policy," Special CBI judge, M K Nagpal said while denying bail to Sisodia.

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.