A local court in Delhi on Saturday issued summons to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia and three others for their alleged involvement in the formulation and implementation of the now scrapped Delhi Excise policy 2021-22.
The Rouse Avenue Court took cognisance of the charge sheet filed by CBI and issued summons to Sisodia, Hyderabased-based Chartered Accountant Buchi Babu Gorantla, Arjun Pandey and businessman Amandeep Dhall.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on June 2, along with the main matter.
CBI had filed a supplementary charge sheet on April 25, naming for the first time, Sisodia as an accused in the liquor policy scam case.
The national agency had filed its first charge sheet on November 25, 2022. In addition to provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, CBI has invoked IPC 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 201, and 420.
The national agency stated in its charge sheet that the investigation was ongoing to probe the larger conspiracy and the role of the other accused in the case.
As per the charge sheet, the Delhi government’s Excise Policy for 2021-2022 to grant licences to liquor traders favoured certain dealers, who had allegedly paid bribes for it.
CBI had arrested Sisodia on February 26 after interrogating him for more than eight hours. The national agency had said that there were irregularities in the framing and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
It alleged that Sisodia was arrested as he gave evasive replies and did not cooperate with the investigation despite being confronted with evidence.
The FIR filed by CBI stated that Sisodia and others were ‘instrumental’ in ‘recommending and taking decisions’ regarding the Excise policy 2021-22 ‘without’ approval of any competent authority, with an intention to ‘extend’ undue favours to the licensee post tender.
Later, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him on March 9 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the same case.
Sisodia moved the Supreme Court challenging his arrest. The Apex Court refused to entertain his petition and asked him to approach the Delhi High Court first. Hours after the decision, Sisodia resigned as Minister from the Delhi Cabinet.
On April 23, CBI had summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, where he was questioned for around nine hours as a witness in connection with the liquor policy case.
Earlier, the Rouse Avenue Court had extended the judicial custody of Sisodia till June 1, while directing the jail authorities to consider providing him with a chair and table for study purpose.