Former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s judicial custody extended till April 18

The judicial custody of former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy was extended till April 18 on Saturday.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja extended Manish Sisodia's judicial custody after he was produced before the Rouse Avenue court on the expiry of the judicial custody granted earlier.

Sanjay Singh, AAP leader and a co-accused in the case who was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court, also appeared before the court for the proceedings.

Last year on February 26, 2023, Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged role in the "scam". The ED arrested Sisodia in a money-laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9, 2023.

He resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.

Earlier this week, the Aam Aadmi Party leader’s counsel argued in court that the allegations against him are yet to be established, he is entitled to bail.

The CBI as well as the ED have alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the Delhi Excise Policy, undue favours were extended to licence holders, licence fee was waived or reduced and licences were extended without the competent authority's approval, reported the Hindustan Times.

Manish Sisodia on Friday addressed a letter to the public from inside Tihar Jail, in which he compared his plight with the atrocities committed by the British against freedom fighters and reiterated his commitment towards education for children.

On Monday, the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi extended the custody of Arvind Kejriwal till April 15, sending him to Tihar Jail till his next hearing.

Unlike Sisodia, Kejriwal is in no mood to step down from his post and will continue to run the Delhi government from inside jail.

After Kejriwal’s arrest there has been a lot of hue and cry about Bhartiya Janata Party using central agencies like ED and CBI as part of a “political conspiracy”.