Excise case: Court extends Sisodia’s judicial custody till May 12

The Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday extended till May 12 the judicial custody of Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the CBI case related to alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped excise policy. Special Judge MK Nagpal, while extending the judicial custody, also directed CBI to supply an e-copy of the supplementary chargesheet filed by it on April 25. Advocate Rishikesh, who appeared for Manish Sisodia, argued that on grounds of an “incomplete chargesheet/ incomplete investigation” his client has a right to “statutory/default bail” as per Supreme Court directions. “Prima facie it seems the agency is saying that further investigation is required/pending. Therefore, we reserve the right to file an application for statutory bail,” he said. The Delhi court asked CBI why they have not mentioned that investigation related to Sisodia has been completed. “You say you have filed a supplementary chargesheet (in the stipulated time), but you have said the investigation is pending in the case. Why have you not mentioned that the chargesheet is filed on completion of the investigation against Sisodia?” The court said Sisodia’s counsel’s submission that a copy of the chargesheet is required by them to see whether the investigation qua Sisodia is complete has been noted. It said though this is not the stage to supply a copy of the chargesheet, an e-copy of the same should be given. The court noted that the bail hearing in the CBI case is going on in Delhi High Court and “aspects from this” could be used in order to press for bail before High Court.