Delhi Liqure Case: Aam Aadmi Party’s problems may increase. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday told the Supreme Court that it is considering making AAP an accused in the Delhi Excise case. ED said in the court that we are considering making Aam Aadmi Party an accused under Section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. ED said that this will facilitate additional investigation. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, said this in the court. Let us tell you that Raju was answering the question asked by the Supreme Court on October 4. In fact, the court had raised this question while hearing the bail petitions filed by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, arrested in this case.
ED and CBI filed reply in SC
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also told the Supreme Court on Monday that they are considering making Aam Aadmi Party an accused in Delhi Excise Policy related cases. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for both the investigating agencies, told a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti that they have instructed the state that the agencies are considering making the Aam Aadmi Party an accused. However, the bench on Tuesday asked Raju to clarify his stand on whether there would be separate charges against AAP in the cases being investigated by CBI and ED.
Raju made this statement when the bench was hearing the bail plea of AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was arrested in excise policy cases. Investigating agencies have often said that AAP was the beneficiary of bribes received from stakeholders who received liquor licenses in return. He has alleged that AAP had used this money for campaigning in the Goa Assembly elections.
It is noteworthy that former Deputy CM of Delhi Government Manish Sisodia is facing investigation by both ED and CBI in the Delhi Excise Policy case. He has been accused by the CBI of bringing changes in the excise policy of the Delhi government to benefit some liquor traders. The central agency had claimed after investigation that Sisodia, along with AAP’s media in-charge Vijay Nair, had played an important role in increasing the profit margin available under the now-expired Excise Policy 2021 from the previous 5 percent to 12 percent.
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