New Delhi. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has filed a fresh bail plea citing the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as the reason for his release. Special Judge Kavita Baweja has issued notice to CBI and ED in response to Sisodia’s petition. The next hearing in the case will be on April 20. Sisodia is currently in Tihar jail due to his involvement in the excise policy scam case. CBI arrested him on February 26, 2023. The ED later arrested Sisodia on March 9, 2023, in a money laundering case related to the CBI FIR. On February 28, 2023, Sisodia resigned from the Delhi Cabinet.
Both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court have earlier rejected Sisodia’s bail pleas in ED and CBI cases. In March 2024, Sisodia filed another bail plea in the trial court, which is still pending hearing. Excise Policy
Sixteen high-profile persons have been arrested so far in the Delhi Excise Policy scam case. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and BRS leader K Kavita are also in judicial custody in this case.
The CBI and ED have alleged that irregularities were committed while amending the Delhi Excise policy, including giving undue benefits to license holders, waiving or reducing license fees and extending licenses without the approval of the competent authority. The investigating agencies have alleged that the beneficiaries provided “illegal” benefits to the accused and made false entries in their accounts to evade investigation.
On the interim bail plea of Manish Sisodia, the court issued notice to CBI and ED and sought their response. The next hearing will be held on April 20 at 10 am.
Manish Sisodia had sought anticipatory bail to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections.#Manishsisodia #rouseavenuecourt #ED @ArvindKejriwal, pic.twitter.com/FzeJzp7ieN
— Hindi news Hindi Khabar 🇮🇳 (@HindiKhabar) April 12, 2024
The CBI on February 26, 2023, arrested former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia for his alleged role in the “scam”. ED arrested Sisodia on March 9, 2023 in a money laundering case obtained from the CBI FIR. On February 28, 2023, Manish Sisodia resigned from the Delhi Cabinet.