Posted by New Delhi: A special court on Wednesday extended judicial custody of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in a corruption case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the alleged excise policy scam till May 7.
Special Judge extended the judicial remand of Sisodia in the CBI case after the expiry of his judicial remand in the corruption case.
Sisodia is currently lodged in judicial custody in Tihar Jail in CBI, ED cases
Sisodia, who is currently lodged in judicial custody in Tihar Jail in corruption and money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) connected with alleged excise policy scam, was first arrested by the CBI on February 26 last year and he was later arrested by the ED in the money laundering case from Tihar Jail.
Court last week reserved its order on bail pleas of Sisodia for April 30
The special court last week reserved bail pleas of Sisodia in both cases for April 30 after hearing arguments from the counsels of Sisodia and CBI and ED.
While Sisodia has urged the court to release him on bail in both cases, the CBI and ED opposed his pleas seeking bail, submitting that Sisodia, who is the former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, is the key accused in these cases and he is a powerful person with a political clout. The central investigating agencies further told the court that investigation in these cases related to the alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy is at nascent stage on certain key aspects and releasing him on bail at this stage may hamper the investigation.
Sisodia had also filed a plea seeking interim bail in both CBI and ED cases for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls, however, his counsel told the court last week that since the court has reserved its order on his regular bail pleas, his plea for interim bail has become infructuous.
Court directed CBI to file documents in corruption case by May 7 while adjourning hearing on whether to frame charges
In a related development in the excise policy case, the special court on Wednesday asked the CBI to file documents, including a table detailing the statements of witnesses and accused as well as the evidence, in the corruption case registered by it in connection with the alleged excise policy scam by May 7. The direction was issued by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja to the CBI while adjourning the hearing on whether to frame charges against the accused persons in the corruption case.