Delhi excise scam: Court extends Manish Sisodia’s judicial custody

Delhi court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of jailed AAP leader Manish Sisodia in a corruption case related to the alleged Delhi excise scam. Special Judge M K Nagpal extended Sisodia’s custody till March 22 after he was produced before the court on the expiry of his remand.

The judge passed the order after the CBI counsel claimed that investigation was at a crucial stage, and if released on bail, Sisodia may hamper the ongoing probe or flee from justice.

The judge also heard arguments on an application filed by some accused in the case objecting to the commencement of arguments on the framing of charges.

ABOUT EXCISE POLICY 2021-221

The policy was formed on the basis of an expert committee report and was implemented by the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi from November 17, 2021. Under the new policy, 849 liquor vends were awarded to private companies through open bidding. The city was divided into 32 zones, each with a maximum of 27 vends. Instead of individual licences, bidding was done zone-by-zone.