Delhi HC reserves order on Manish Sisodia's bail plea in excise policy case

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved its order on bail plea moved by Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case in both CBI and ED matters.

The HC had granted more time to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file their replies to the bail pleas filed by Sisodia on May 8.

Last week, a lower court extended Sisodia’s judicial custody till May 21. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja extended the custody after he was produced before the court through video conference on the expiry of his judicial custody granted earlier.


Sisodia has been in custody since February 26, 2023, after arrest by the CBI. Later, he was arrested by the ED.

The ED and the CBI had alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy. Undue favours were extended to licence holders, the licence fee was waived or reduced and the L-1 licence was extended without the competent authority's approval.

As per the allegations, the excise department had decided to refund the earnest money deposit of about Rs 30 crore to a successful tenderer against the set rules.

Even though there was no enabling provision, a waiver on tendered licence fees was allowed from December 28, 2021, to January 27, 2022, due to COVID-19, the probe agency said, adding that there was an alleged loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the exchequer.

(With inputs from agencies)