Sisodia's judicial custody in ED case extended till May 8

A Delhi court on Saturday extended Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia's judicial custody in the excise policy case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate till May 8.

While being taken to court, Sisodia Sisodia told the mediapersons that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be able to "stop Arvind Kejriwal's work no matter how much he tries".

"Modi ji jitni koshish kar le lekin Kejriwal ji ke kaam ko rok nahi payenge Delhi me (No matter how much PM Modi tries, he won't be able to stop Kejriwal's work in Delhi)," Sisodia said.

Special Judge M K Nagpal while denying bail to Sisodia, said the investigation is at such a stage that it doesn't merit granting bail.

Sisodia moved the bail application in the money laundering case on March 21.

During the hearings, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed the bail application, claiming that Sisodia had planted fabricated emails to demonstrate public support for the policy and that the investigation was at a 'crucial' stage.

Additionally, the federal agency had stated that it had discovered new evidence of his involvement in the alleged crime.

On Thursday, a CBI court had rejected Sisodia's bail application, 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.

(with PTI inputs)