MANISH SISODIA Vs. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This judgment shall govern disposal of BAIL APPLN. 1557/2024 filed by the applicant in case registered against him by Directorate of Enforcement ("E.D.") and BAIL APPLN. 1559/2024 filed by the applicant in case registered against him by Central Bureau of Investigation ("CBI"), since the same arise out of similar facts, the latter being the predicate offence and the former being a case registered on the basis of the predicate offence. The facts and the allegations to a large extent are therefore identical.

(2.) Since both bail applications are being decided by one common order, the brevity of the bail order had to be sacrificed.

(3.) The initial journey of the case began when a letter was issued on 20/7/2022 by Sh. Vinai Kumar Saxena, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, alleging irregularities in the framing and implementation of Delhis Excise Policy for the year 2021-22. Subsequent to this, Sh. Praveen Kumar Rai, Director, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, had directed an enquiry into the said matter, vide Office Memorandum dtd. 22/7/2022. Pursuant thereto, the Central Bureau of Investigation registered a case bearing no. RC0032022A0053 on 17/8/2022, for offences under Ss. 120B read with 477A of Indian Penal Code, 1860 ("IPC") and Sec. 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 ("PC Act").