In the capital city of New Delhi, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) put forth allegations in front of a court on the preceding Saturday, asserting that Manish Sisodia, a prominent figure of the AAP (Aam Aadmi Party), alongside other defendants, was impeding the progression of the trial regarding a money laundering incident associated with the purported Delhi excise policy “scandal.”
Presenting arguments against Sisodia’s plea for bail, the ED stood before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who subsequently extended the judicial remand of the AAP luminary until April 18, following his presentation in court upon the termination of his custody.
Furthermore, the ED contended that Sisodia played a significant role in formulating the policy, alleging the reception of substantial illicit kickbacks amounting to Rs 100 crore, both by him and other affiliates of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Seeking respite from the court, the AAP stalwart expressed concerns regarding the tardiness in the initiation of the trial. Contrary to his assertions, the central investigative body maintained that any postponements were attributable not to the prosecution but rather to the defendants.
In its rebuttal to his subsequent bail application, the ED articulated, “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.”
In the course of the legal proceedings, Sanjay Singh, a co-accused and fellow party member of Sisodia, who recently obtained bail from the Supreme Court, made an appearance before the court. Notably, the ED disclosed that a total of 95 petitions were submitted by the defendants seeking similar reliefs, with Sisodia himself accounting for six of them.
The ED further highlighted the submission of frivolous petitions by the implicated parties, resulting in the imposition of penalties by the presiding judge’s predecessor. The court is scheduled to deliberate on these matters further on April 10.
Both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have alleged discrepancies in the alteration of the Delhi Excise Policy, implicating undue preferential treatment toward licensees, waiver or reduction of license fees, and extensions of licenses without the requisite authority’s sanction.
According to the assertions made by the investigative agencies, the beneficiaries purportedly redirected “unlawful” gains to the implicated officials and falsified entries in their financial records to evade detection.
Sisodia found himself in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023, regarding his purported involvement in the “scandal.” Subsequently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) apprehended Sisodia in connection with a money laundering inquiry stemming from the CBI’s First Information Report (FIR) on March 9, 2023. Consequently, he tendered his resignation from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.
