Excise Policy Scam: Delhi HC Seeks ED’s Reply On Manish Sisodia’s Bail Plea

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s bail plea in the money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam.

In addition, Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued a notice on Sisodia’s interim bail plea and scheduled the case for further consideration on May 11, 2023.

The AAP leader has sought interim bail on the grounds of his wife’s ill condition.

During today’s hearing, ED Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain asserted that Sisodia is a key conspirator in the case.

Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, on the other hand, challenged the claim and stated that such statements cannot be made without filing a response.

Sisodia has been detained since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested him on February 26.

The ED subsequently filed the separate money laundering cases based on the CBI one.

On April 28, the trial judge denied Sisodia’s bail request in the ED case.

Special CBI Judge MK Nagpal ruled in his order that Sisodia was the main architect and brain behind the criminal conspiracy.

It is claimed that Sisodia and other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members conspired to issue liquor licenses to certain traders in exchange for bribery.

According to the central agencies, the Excise Policy was altered and profit margins were changed in a way that favoured some traders, and kickbacks were taken in exchange for this.