Excise policy case: Delhi court takes cognisance of ED's supplementary charge sheet against Sisodia
Darpan News Desk IANS, 30 May, 2023 10:19 AM
New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) A Delhi court on Tuesday took cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) supplementary charge sheet against former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, in connection with the excise policy case.
Special judge M.K. Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court took cognisance after having reserved the order on May 19.
The court then issued summons to Sisodia for June 1. The same court had on May 23 extended the Aam Aadmi Party leader's judicial custody for the same date in the ED case.
On May 27, after taking cognisance of the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) supplementary charge sheet, the court had issued summons to Sisodia and three others for June 2. On May 12, Sisodia's judicial custody was also extended for the same date in the CBI case.
The ED had arrested Sisodia on March 9, after the CBI arrested him on February 26 this year.
Special public prosecutor Naveen Kumar Matta filed the charge sheet, which runs into over 2,100 pages.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Delhi High Court dismissed Sisodia's bail plea in the excise policy case being probed by the CBI.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma pronounced the order on his bail plea after having reserved it on May 11. The judge said that the nature of the allegations is quite serious that the excise policy was formed at the instance of the South Group with mala fide intentions to give undue advantages to them.
While denying Sisodia bail, the judge also said that Sisodia being an influential person can influence the witnesses, who are also public servants.
Sisodia had challenged special judge M.K. Nagpal's order denying him bail on March 31.
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has exposed a scam by arresting seven people, including a revenue official, on charges of receiving compensations during acquisition of land on forged documents in Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) from 2016 to 2020.
Sisodia has sought for interim bail on the ground of illness of his wife. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, while listing the plea for consideration on Thursday with his regular bail plea, also asked the CBI to try make efforts to file the status report in the matter on the same day itself.
The arrested accused were identified as Nitin Narulla, Nikhil, Rajpal alias Raju Gahlot, Deepak - all residents of Delhi - Mohit and Jitender Dahiya, both residents of Haryana. Deepak, Nikhil and Nitin were found involved in other criminal cases as well.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and Gujarat government, submitted before a bench headed by Justice K.M. Joseph and comprising justice B V Nagarathna that they do not claim privilege over files in connection with grant of remission to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case.
Around 3,000 Indians have been evacuated safely from Sudan so far, who are being brought to India via Jeddah. Intense fighting between Sudan's army and paramilitary forces has been going on since April 14, which has led to the killing of more than 500 people there.
Addressing the gathering after dedicating a plant of JSW Steel Coating Products Ltd, the Chief Minister said the plant has been constructed at a cost of Rs 247 crore and will provide employment to 600 youth.
