Page 5 - Excise Duty

Excise policy case: SC reserves verdict on bail pleas of Manish Sisodia

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the regular bail pleas of former deputy chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in corruption and money laundering cases arising out of the Delhi excise policy 'scam'. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti reserved its verdict on two separate bail petitions by Sisodia after hearing his counsel Abhishek Singhvi and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26 for his alleged role in the 'scam'. He has been in custody since then. The ED had arrested Sisodia in a money laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9 after questioning him in Tihar Jail. Sisodia resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28. The high court had denied him bail in the CBI case on May 30, saying having been the deputy chief minister and excise minister, he is a "high-profile" person

Cannot keep Sisodia in jail in excise policy cases indefinitely: SC to CBI

The Supreme Court told the CBI and ED on Monday they cannot keep former deputy chief minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia in jail for an "indefinite period" in the Delhi excise policy cases. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti asked Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the two probe agencies, when will the arguments on charges against Sisodia commence in the trial court. "You cannot keep him behind (bars) for an indefinite period. You cannot keep him behind like this. Once a chargesheet is filed in a case, arguments on charge should commence immediately," the bench told Raju. Raju told the bench the cases against Sisodia are at the stage of section 207 of CrPC (supply of documents to the accused) and after that the arguments on charge will commence. "Why have the arguments on charge not yet commenced and when will they commence? Tell us by tomorrow (Tuesday)," Justice Khanna told Raju. The top court was hearing the bail pleas of Sisodia, who was arres

Excise case: Court extends ED custody of AAP MP Sanjay Singh till Oct 13

ED had sought five days of further custody on grounds that Singh is not cooperating, and not telling about his old phone. "His close associate Sarvesh Mishra is also not cooperating," ED told court

Delhi court sends AAP leader Sanjay Singh to ED custody till Oct 10

A Delhi court Thursday sent senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate for five days, a day after the anti-money laundering agency arrested him in the Delhi excise policy case. Special Judge M K Nagpal remanded Singh in ED custody till October 10 to enable the federal probe agency to interrogate him. The AAP Rajya Sabha MP will be produced before the court on expiry of his custody. While being brought to the courtroom, Singh said his arrest was an act of injustice by Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose party was going to lose the next Lok Sabha elections. Singh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday in connection with its money laundering probe linked to the 2021-22 Delhi Excise policy case, in a huge blow to the city's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). "This is Modiji's injustice. He will lose election, he is losing election," he told journalists. Later, when the court asked him whether he wanted to say something, Singh claimed he w

Sanjay Singh produced before court, says his arrest 'Modiji's injustice'

AAP leader Sanjay Singh was produced before a court on Thursday, a day after he was arrested in the Delhi excise policy case. The Rajya Sabha MP said his arrest was an act of injustice by Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose party was going to lose the next Lok Sabha elections. Singh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday in connection with its money laundering probe linked to the 2021-22 Delhi Excise policy case, in a huge blow to the city's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). "This is Modiji's injustice. He will lose election, he is losing election," he told journalists while being produced before Special Judge M K Nagpal.

Union excise duty collection fell 12% in first five months of FY24

Experts were not sure why excise duty yielded fewer revenues in August year-on-year since the production of petroleum rose during the period

Delhi govt issues notification asking to renew excise licences by October 5

The Delhi government issued a notification on Friday, asking the licensees to renew their existing excise licences by October 5. The city government has decided to extend its existing excise policy by six months due to the time needed for coming up with a new liquor trade regime. The policy has been extended till March 31, 2024 following the requisite approvals from the Delhi government and the lieutenant governor, a senior officer had said on Thursday. "All the licensees of L15/L-15F and L-16/L-16F are hereby directed to submit their applications for renewal of the licences online by accessing their accounts in ESCIMS portal through their ID and passwords, along with the applicable licence renewal fee for the period w.e.f. 01.10.2023 to 31.03.2024 by providing requisite information and payment of renewal licence fee on or before 05.10.2023," the notification read. A proposal of the excise department to extend the policy, implemented on September 1 last year, was sent for the LG's

Delhi govt extends existing excise policy by 6 more months: Officials

The Delhi government has decided to extend its existing excise policy by six months due to the time needed for coming up with a new liquor trade regime, officials said on Thursday. The policy has been extended till March 31, 2024 following the requisite approvals from the Delhi government and the lieutenant governor, a senior officer said. A proposal of the excise department to extend the policy, implemented on September 1 last year, was sent for the LG's nod after it was cleared by the government. The file was sent back to the government from the LG's office, marked as "seen", the officer added. A notification for the extension of the policy will be issued by the excise department on Friday. After the notification, the existing excise licences will be renewed for six months on payment of fees on a pro-rata basis, he said. The current excise policy was going to lapse on September 30, requiring either its extension or replacement with a new policy for regulatory necessities to opera

CBI court grants bail to four accused in Delhi excise policy case

The CBI has filed a supplementary charge sheet against five accused, including these four. Former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was physically produced for the hearing of the case

Difference between AIR of DBK & actual duty incidence can be rebated

You have to make appropriate declarations in the shipping bill and then file the brand rate fixation application to your jurisdictional authorities

Delhi excise policy case: SC defers hearing on Sisodia's bail plea to Oct 4

After the commencement of the hearing this morning, the court said that it could keep the matter at the end of the board or adjourn it for some other day

Excise Commissioner empowered to declare dry days in Delhi, says official

A notification issued by the Finance department of Delhi government has empowered the Excise Commissioner to declare dry days for closure of liquor outlets in the city, officials said on Friday. The proposal of the Excise department on the declaration of dry days was earlier sent for approval of the chief minister, they said. No immediate reaction was available from the AAP government on the notification. Last month, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approved a proposal of the Excise department for declaring Muharram, July 29, Independence Day, August 15, Janmashtami, September 7, and Eid-e-Milad on September 28, as dry days. However, the notification issued by the Finance department on July 28 stated that the Excise Commissioner with prior concurrence of the principal secretary (finance) can exercise the power of the government for the purpose. "In exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 8 of Delhi Excise Act, 2009 (10 of 2010), the Hon'ble Lt. Governor of Nationa

Excise scam: HC grants bail to Raghav Magunta in money laundering case

The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Raghav Magunta, son of YSR Congress Party MP, in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, who had earlier granted interim bail to the son of MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, recorded that the relief was granted as the Enforcement Directorate did not oppose his bail plea. The ED, in its reply, submitted that since the accused is cooperating in the investigation and assisting in tracing the Proceeds of Crime, which would have been otherwise difficult, he may be granted bail. In view of the statement made and the facts narrated herein above, the interim bail granted vide order dated 18.07.2023 for four weeks on medical grounds is made absolute, said the court in an order dated August 10. Let the petitioner be released on regular bail furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 2,00,000 with two sureties of like amount to the satisfaction of the learned trial court , the court said. The court a

Delhi HC seeks ED's stand on bail plea by Vijay Nair in Excise policy case

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the stand of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a plea by businessman and Aam Aadmi Party's communication in-charge Vijay Nair seeking default bail in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued notice on the bail application and granted time to the investigation agency to file its reply. Nair, who was arrested on November 13, 2022, was refused default bail in the case by the trial court on July 29. The trial court had dismissed the bail plea, saying it was not the competent or an appropriate forum to consider the grounds of default bail of the accused and the appropriate course would be to approach the same judge or bench of the high court, which had earlier dismissed his bail plea, with a request for consideration of the point. Senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for Nair, contended before the high court that the ED filed piecemeal charge sheets in the matter and the accused was

Corporation tax mop-up slips 14%; total tax collection in Q1 rises 3.38%

Excise duty mop-up falls 15%

Delhi HC grants interim bail to YSR Congress MP's son on medical grounds

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted interim bail on medical grounds to Raghav Magunta, the son of YSR Congress Party MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam. While granting the relief, Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma asked Magunta to appear before ED officials at the agency's Chennai or Delhi office, whenever called. The high court said he shall confine himself to Chennai and shall report to ED officials every Tuesday and Friday at 4 pm. "He shall not leave India without permission of the trial court. He shall surrender passport before the trial court," the high court said. It clarified that Magunta's bail on medical grounds will not be treated as precedent for other cases. According to the CBI and the ED, which are probing the cases against senior AAP leader and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Magunta and others, irregularities were allegedly committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours were .

IFB Agro's fish feed plant in 2024, liquor biz face trouble on duty hike

IFB Agro Industries on Monday said its alcohol business is facing challenges due to a sharp hike in liquor prices due to a 30 per cent excise rise by the West Bengal government, while the company's new fish feed manufacturing facility in Odisha will be operational from March 2024. IFB Agro management informed investors in a report that the company's board decided to set up the fish feed plant in Odisha despite neighbouring West Bengal being its major market, due to certain issues faced by it and for a better business environment. The company did not divulge more details on the subject. "The liquor business witnessed a sharp decline in volume in the industry during the year as there has been a sharp increase in prices by 30 per cent (MRP). This abnormal increase in the prices of India Made Foreign Liquor was made effective from January 2023 by the West Bengal Excise Department, which led to a sharp decrease in demand, as the same has been made unaffordable for the people at the bott

ED arrests CBI's approver Dinesh Arora in excise policy laundering case

In a major arrest in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday night took into its custody businessman Dinesh Arora, an accused who has been declared prosecution witness in the same case being probed by CBI. Arora was arrested under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after a long session of questioning. The agency is expected to produce him before a local court on Friday. Dinesh Arora has been questioned by the ED earlier too. But this time, he was evasive in his replies and was not cooperating with the agency following which he was arrested, sources said. The businessman was allegedly a close associate of Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia who is also an accused in the excise policy case and has been arrested by the ED as well as the CBI. The ED, in a supplementary charge sheet, has accused Sisodia of receiving bribes from Amit Arora, another businessm

Excise policy scam: HC rejects Sisodia's bail plea in money laundering case

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the bail plea of AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who was arrested for his alleged role in the money laundering case relating to alleged irregularities in the city government's excise policy. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma refused to grant relief to Sisodia, saying he is not entitled to bail at this stage. Besides Sisodia, the high court also dismissed the bail pleas of businessmen Abhishek Boinpally, Benoy Babu and Vijay Nair, who are co-accused in the money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arising from the alleged scam. Sisodia, the former Delhi deputy chief minister and excise minister, was first arrested by the CBI on February 26 for his alleged role in the scam and has been in custody since then. The high court has already denied him bail in the CBI case on May 30. He was arrested on March 9 in the case lodged by the ED and is currently in judicial custody. The Delhi government implemented the policy on November 17, 2

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