Investigative agency tells court Manish Sisodia delays liquor policy case trial

The ED claimed that Manish Sisodia was responsible for drafting the liquor policy. (document)

New Delhi:

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed in a Delhi court on Saturday that the trial of AAP leader Manish Sisodia and other accused in a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy “scam” was postponed.

The agency opposed Mr Sisodia’s bail plea before special judge Kaveri Baweja, claiming that he was responsible for drafting the policy and that he and other members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) received 10 Crores of advance rebates.

AAP leaders have approached the court for relief, claiming that the start of the trial has been delayed.

The central investigation agency claimed that the “delay” was caused not by the prosecution but by the accused.

“The delay in the trial of the case was not caused by the prosecution, but by the defendants. The defendants, including Sisodia, worked together to delay the trial of the case.” The court responded to his second bail request.

Meanwhile, Mr Sisodia was produced in court after the expiration of his custody and the judge extended his judicial remand till April 18.

During the proceedings, Sisodia’s co-accused and party colleague Sanjay Singh, who was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court, was also present in court.

The ED said the defendants submitted a total of 95 applications seeking similar prayers, six of which were submitted by Mr Sisodia.

It noted that the defendants involved in the case had made frivolous applications for which the previous judge had also imposed costs.

The judge will hear further arguments on April 10.

The CBI and ED claimed that there were irregularities in amending Delhi excise policy, providing undue concessions to license holders, waiving or reducing license fees and extending licenses without approval from the competent authority.

The investigating agency said the beneficiaries allegedly transferred “illegal” proceeds to the accused officials and made false entries in the books of accounts to evade detection.

Mr. Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023, for his alleged involvement in the “scam”. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Sisodia on March 9, 2023, in a money laundering case initiated by a CBI FIR.

He resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on February 28, 2023.

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