Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and a prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), remains in judicial custody as a Delhi court has extended his remand until April 18. This decision came in light of his alleged involvement in the Delhi liquor policy scam, which has stirred significant controversy and legal scrutiny.
The extension of custody was ordered by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court after the previous remand period concluded. Sisodia, arrested in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged scam, failed to secure relief despite his legal team’s efforts.
The case has also seen the involvement of other AAP members, including MP Sanjay Singh, who, after being granted bail by the Supreme Court in a related matter, appeared in court for the proceedings.
Both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have accused Sisodia and others of malpractices in the amendment of Delhi’s liquor policy. Allegations include granting undue advantages to license holders, waiving or reducing license fees without proper authority, and extending licenses unlawly.
Investigations have revealed that the beneficiaries of these alleged irregularities possibly routed illegal gains to the accused officials, who, in turn, manipulated their account books to evade scrutiny.
Sisodia’s legal troubles began when the CBI arrested him on February 26, 2023, for his purported role in the scandal. The ED followed suit with its arrest on March 9, 2023, relating to the money laundering aspects of the case. Sisodia had resigned from his cabinet position on February 28, 2023, and has been under judicial custody since.
The scandal came to light following allegations of corruption and bribery in the formulation and implementation of Delhi’s excise policy, leading to a CBI investigation recommended by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, VK Saxena. The Delhi government, facing mounting pressure, withdrew the controversial policy in July last year.
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The ongoing legal proceedings and investigations into the alleged scam have cast a shadow over AAP’s governance in Delhi, with several individuals and entities named in the CBI’s FIR. Raids have been conducted on Sisodia’s and his associates’ premises as part of the investigation, highlighting the serious nature of the accusations.
