Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Oct 19: In the excise policy case, former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s judicial custody was extended by a Delhi court on Thursday until November 22.
The Enforcement Directorate was informed by the Supreme Court on Tuesday that it would be challenging for the federal investigative agency to prove the allegations of money laundering against former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia if the bribe purportedly paid for modifying the Delhi excise policy is not a predicate offence.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti, who reserved their judgment on the two separate regular bail applications submitted by Sisodia in connection with the corruption and money laundering cases, informed the Enforcement Directorate that they should not make any presumptions regarding the alleged bribe. They stressed the importance of upholding the legal rights and protections granted to the accused in accordance with the law.
The bench made its statement after senior counsel Abhishek Singhvi, representing Sisodia, stated that the AAP leader’s case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) did not include any allegations of bribery as a predicate offence.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Sisodia on February 26 in connection with his alleged involvement in the “scam.” Since then, he has been in custody.
Following his questioning in Tihar Jail on March 9, the ED had arrested Sisodia in connection with the money laundering case arising from the CBI FIR.
