Delhi Liquor Policy Case: ED Opposes Manish Sisodia's Bail Plea, Accuses Him Of Accuses Delaying Trial

Delhi Liquor Policy Case: The ED contended that the delay in starting the trial was not due to the prosecution but caused by accused including former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged before a court in New Delhi on Saturday that AAP leader and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and other accused were intentionally delaying the trial in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy scam. Opposing Sisodia's bail plea before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, the agency claimed that Sisodia, responsible for drafting the policy, received advance kickbacks of Rs 100 crore along with other members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), news agency PTI reported.

The ED contended that the delay in starting the trial was not due to the prosecution but caused by the accused themselves. They asserted that concerted efforts were made by the accused, including Sisodia, to prolong the trial. 

"The delay in the trial of the case has not been caused by the prosecution but by the accused persons. Concerted efforts were made on the part of the accused persons, including Sisodia, to delay the trial in the case," the ED told the court in response to his second bail plea, as per PTI.

The judge extended the judicial remand of Sisodia until April 18 after he was produced before the court upon the expiry of his custody. Sanjay Singh, Sisodia's co-accused and party colleague, also appeared before the court during the proceedings. 

The ED informed the court that a total of 95 applications seeking similar prayers have been filed by the accused, with six filed by Sisodia. They highlighted that frivolous applications have been submitted, leading to costs imposed by the predecessor judge.

The arguments are set to continue on April 10.

Delhi Liquor Policy Case

Both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED have alleged irregularities in the modification of the Delhi Excise Policy. They claimed that undue favours were granted to licence holders, licence fees were waived or reduced, and licences were extended without proper approval.

The probe agencies further alleged that the beneficiaries diverted illegal gains to accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection.

Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, for his alleged involvement in the scam. The ED arrested him in a money-laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9, 2023. He resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.