Delhi Court remands Sisodia to CBI custody till March 4

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia sent to five-day CBI custody in excise policy case. Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court special judge MK Nagpal, after hearing the arguments of both the parties at length, sent Sisodia to CBI custody till March 4.  Sisodia was arrested on Sunday in connection with alleged corruption in the now-withdrawn liquor policy of Delhi. Manish Sisodia faces corruption allegations in bringing a new liquor sale policy in the national capital. The CBI contends that liquor companies had involved in drafting parts of the 2021 policy, for which kickbacks were paid by a liquor lobby it dubbed the "South Group".

The Delhi unit of the Congress, which is in direct competition with the Aam Aadmi Party, has supported the arrest and said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should be arrested next as he is the "mastermind" of the alleged liquor scam.  The CBI has been conducting a probe into the matter pursuant to a letter which was sent by the Lt Governor of Delhi, VK Saxena, alleging irregularities in the framing and implementation of the Liquor Excise Policy which was scrapped in August 2022. Sisodia has also been accused of waiving Rs 143.46 crore to the liquor lobby and refunding licence fees to defaulters, thereby causing a loss of revenue to the exchequer.