Delhi excise scam saga: Court extends judicial custody of Delhi CM Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K Kavitha

A Delhi court on July 25 extended the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in money laundering and corruption cases related to the alleged excise scam.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja extended Kejriwal's custody in a money laundering case, being probed by the Enforcement Directorate, till July 31, while his judicial custody in a corruption case, lodged by the CBI, was extended till August 8.

The judge also extended the judicial custody of Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha and other accused till July 31 in the money laundering case.

Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023 for his alleged role in the scam.

The accused were produced before the court through video conference.

The Supreme Court had earlier granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the ED case, however, he continues to be lodged in Tihar jail here as he has not furnished the bail bond in the case.

He is in judicial custody in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case.

Earlier in July, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a 208-page chargesheet, terming Kejriwal as the "mastermind" and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the "main beneficiary" in financial misconduct in the now-scrapped 2021-22 excise policy.

The ED arrested Kejriwal on March 21 after ignored its nine summonses. The ED’s money laundering probe began after a case was registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 17, 2022 in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy.

It is alleged that a criminal conspiracy was hatched by AAP leaders, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others.

The ED has alleged that proceeds of crime worth ₹2,161 crore were generated in the case involving 70 individuals and companies. It has attached assets worth ₹14.02 crore of five individuals under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

(PTI)