Jailed AAP leader Manish Sisodia's judicial custody has been extended until the February 22 hearing. Meanwhile, Sisodia pushed for an expedited hearing of his two curative petitions challenging the Supreme Court's 2023 verdict denying him bail in the Delhi excise policy scam-related corruption and money laundering cases. Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Sisodia, stressed the urgency, citing the leader's year-long imprisonment. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud assured that the petitions had already been instructed for listing.
Background of legal battle
On December 14, 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed Sisodia's review pleas, upholding its earlier decision denying bail. The court had tentatively supported probe agencies' claims of "windfall gains" of Rs 338 crore by certain wholesale distributors based on evidence. Sisodia, arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, faced charges related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
Delhi excise policy scam
The Delhi government's excise policy, implemented on November 17, 2021, faced scrutiny and subsequent cancellation in September 2022 amid corruption allegations. Investigating agencies contended that the new policy favored ineligible entities for monetary gains, leading to cartelisation. Sisodia resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023. While denying wrongdoing, both Sisodia and the Delhi government argued that the policy aimed to boost the city's revenue.
ED's involvement and denials
The ED arrested Sisodia in a money-laundering case arising from the CBI FIR on March 9, 2023, following questioning in Tihar Jail. Despite the allegations and legal complexities, both Sisodia and the Delhi government maintained their denial of any wrongdoing, asserting that the new excise policy aimed at increasing the city government's revenue.
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