Court extends judicial custody of Sisodia-Kavita till July 25

New Delhi (Team Newsbuddy): Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and BRS leader K Kavita appeared in Rouse Avenue Court through video conferencing in the money laundering case related to the excise policy. The court extended the judicial custody of both the accused till July 25. The judicial custody of Aam Aadmi Party leaders Manish Sisodia and K Kavita was over, after which they have been produced.

Manish Sisodia is lodged in Tihar Jail. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on 26 February 2023. At the same time, the ED arrested Sisodia on 9 March 2023 in a money laundering case related to the CBI FIR. On 28 February 2023, Sisodia resigned from the Delhi Cabinet. On the other hand, K Kavitha was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 15 from her residence in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.

What is the alleged liquor policy scam?

Amidst the Corona period, the Aam Aadmi Party government of Delhi implemented the ‘Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22’. There were complaints of alleged irregularities in the implementation of this liquor policy, after which the Lieutenant Governor recommended a CBI inquiry. With this, the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 came under question. However, the new liquor policy was later repealed amid allegations of irregularities in its making and its implementation.

How did the investigation start?

The CBI registered an FIR in August 2022 against 15 accused in the case for alleged violation of rules and procedural irregularities in the new liquor policy. Later, the ED started investigating a case of money laundering under PMLA in connection with the case registered by the CBI.

The ED and the CBI are separately investigating the alleged scam in the new liquor policy of the Delhi government. The ED is investigating the allegations of money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the policy. At the same time, the CBI’s investigation is focused on the alleged irregularities in the formulation of the policy.