The Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act), CBI, Rouse Avenue District Court today extended the Judicial Custody (JC) of Delhi's Former Education Minister Manish Sisodia till June 1, 2023. Manish is an accused in an alleged Delhi Excise Scam and his custody was to expire today.

The Special Court Judge M.K. Nagpal, on the request of the Investigating Officer seeking further extension of the custody, noted that the fourth supplementary prosecution complaint against Manish Sisodia has already been filed in the Court and the same is fixed for consideration on May 30, 2023, at 4 pm on the point of summoning Manish as an accused.

The Judge directed that "he is being remanded to JC till 01.06.2023 as the first/main complaint is already fixed for hearing/further proceedings on that date for 10.30 am and he is directed to be produced before the court on the above-said date and time physically, as requested."

The Court further allowed Manish Sisodia to put his signatures under the attestation of the Court on 2 cheques and also on three letters in connection with the execution of some development work in relation to his Assembly Constituency.

Exchange Of Books: The Court noted that Sisodia has been permitted to keep some books with him in jail and every time in seeking permission from the Court for the exchange of old books results in grave inconvenience and hardship not only to him but also to his counsels and further, it even results in wastage of precious time of the court. Hence, the Court modified its earlier order and directed "that during the course of legal meetings with his counsels, the accused be permitted to exchange old books provided to him with the new books as may be brought by his counsels."

Chair and Table for Study Purpose: The Court also considered another application of Sisodia seeking the facility of a chair and table for study purposes. Sisodia stated that since he has to study books for long, hours while sitting on the floor, it has resulted in acute back pain and compression of some nerves at the upper level of his back. Accordingly, the Court directed the Jail Superintendent concerned to sympathetically consider the request of the accused for providing him with a chair and small table for study purposes.

Manish Sisodia was represented by Advocate Karan Sharma along with Advocate Mohd. Irshad.

Manish Sisodia has been lodged in the jail since February 26, 2023. Both the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Directorate of Enforcement are investigating his alleged role in the excise policy scam which took place in Delhi. Sisodia is accused of being the mastermind of this scam and is being investigated by the ED under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Cause Title: Directorate of Enforcement (DoE/ED) Vs. Manish Sisodia [ECIR/HIU-11/14/2022]

Click here to read/download the Order


CBI CourtEnforcement DirectorateManish SisodiaDelhi Excise Policy ScamAam Aaadmi Party

Ramey Krishan Rana