Special Judge Kaveri Baweja extended their custody after they appeared via video conference, following the expiration of their earlier judicial custody period.
![[Breaking] Excise Scam: Court extends judicial custody of Sisodia, K Kavitha Till July 25th](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-18-1.png?resize=400%2C225&ssl=1)
NEW DELHI: Today (3rd July): The judicial custody of AAP leader Manish Sisodia and BRS leader K Kavitha in a money laundering case linked to an alleged excise scam has been extended till July 25.
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja extended their custody after they appeared via video conference, following the expiration of their earlier judicial custody period.
READ ALSO: [Delhi Excise Scam] Delhi Court Reserves Order on BRS Leader K Kavitha’s Bail Plea
Earlier, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court extended the judicial custody of Manish Sisodia, a prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, until May 30 in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. The case, which involves the now-repealed Delhi liquor excise policy 2021-22, was registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and named Manish Sisodia as one of the accused.
In a video conference hearing before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, Manish Sisodia’s custody was extended after the expiration of his previous judicial custody. The court also postponed the arguments on framing charges against Sisodia, following the directions issued by the Delhi High Court based on an appeal filed by one of the accused, Arun Pillai.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had previously arrested Manish Sisodia on March 9 last year in connection with the liquor policy case, which involves allegations of money laundering and corruption.
On May 17, the ED filed a charge sheet against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case, also naming AAP as an accused. While seeking bail for Sisodia, his counsel submitted that the ED and CBI are still arresting individuals in the money laundering and corruption case, indicating no early conclusion of the trial.
Background
Sisodia’s arrest by the CBI on February 26, 2023, followed by subsequent detention in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, has drawn attention to the legal proceedings surrounding the case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also arrested Sisodia on March 9 in connection with a money laundering case initiated by the CBI-led investigation.
Despite Sisodia’s bail pleas, the Supreme Court upheld the denial of relief, citing the tentative establishment of a money trail amounting to Rs 338 crore in the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the Delhi liquor policy.
K. Kavitha was previously remanded to judicial custody until April 23, 2024, by the Rouse Avenue Court. The ED’s investigation revealed that Kavitha, along with others, conspired with top leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, to obtain favors in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy. In return for these favors, she was allegedly involved in paying Rs. 100 crore to AAP leaders.
The ED has filed one prosecution complaint and five supplementary complaints in the case. As a result of the investigation, assets worth Rs. 128.79 crore have been traced and provisionally attached through attachment orders issued on January 24 and July 3, 2023.
READ ALSO: Delhi Court Extends K Kavitha’s Custody in Excise ‘Scam’ Case Till May 14
The CBI inquiry was initiated based on the findings of a report by the Delhi Chief Secretary, which indicated prima facie violations of various acts and rules related to the Delhi Excise Policy. Both the ED and the CBI have alleged irregularities in the modification of the excise policy, extension of undue favors to license holders, waiver or reduction of license fees, and unauthorized extensions of L-1 licenses, resulting in financial losses and wrongful gains.
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