The Delhi High Court, presided over by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, has rejected the bail pleas of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, and three others in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam in Delhi. The case, initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), stemmed from a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which alleged that the excise policy had been manipulated to favor certain traders, resulting in kickbacks being received.

Apart from Manish Sisodia, the bail pleas of Vijay Nair, an AAP leader, Abhishek Boinpally, a Hyderabad-based businessman, and Benoy Babu, an employee of Pernod Ricard, were also denied by the court. The High Court had previously dismissed Sisodia's bail petition in a related CBI case, as well as interim bail applications.

The ED and the CBI launched investigations into the alleged excise scam after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe based on a report by the Delhi Chief Secretary, which claimed that Sisodia had violated statutory provisions and implemented a policy with significant financial implications.

The central agencies' case asserts that officials of the Delhi government colluded to grant liquor licenses to specific traders in exchange for bribes. It is alleged that the excise policy was modified and profit margins were adjusted to benefit these traders, and kickbacks were received as a result.

While initially not named in the CBI's chargesheet, Manish Sisodia was later included as an accused in the case. Sisodia argues that the policy and its modifications were approved by the Lieutenant Governor, and he maintains that the CBI is targeting the policy decisions of an elected government.

Sisodia's legal team contends that no money has been traced back to the senior AAP leader and accuses the agencies of reassessing a liquor policy formulated by the elected government and approved by the Lieutenant Governor.

Vijay Nair is alleged to have received a transfer or delivery of approximately ₹100 crore, the alleged kickback amount, from the South liquor lobby. Abhishek Boinpally is accused of lobbying on behalf of specific liquor businessmen in southern India and facilitating the transfer of money through hawala channels to co-accused Vijay Nair. Benoy Babu is accused of being involved in the conversion of bribe money into legitimate funds.

The Delhi High Court's decision to deny bail to Manish Sisodia, Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally, and Benoy Babu underscores the seriousness of the charges and the ongoing investigation into the alleged excise policy scam.