Manish Sisodia Main Architect Of Delhi Liquor Policy Which Was Meant To Be 'Evergreen Vehicle' For Illegal Gains: ED Opposes Bail

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday told a Delhi Court that the Delhi Government's now scrapped excise policy for 2021-22 was meant to be an "evergreen vehicle" for generating illegal gains.

Special counsel Zoheb Hossain representing the central probe agency made the submission before Special judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Courts. He was opposing the bail plea of former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia in the money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy case.

Hossain said that the policy was not only meant for the period it was implemented for but also for future generations.

"The policy was withdrawn because of the investigation initiated by the investigating agency. It (excise policy) was meant to be an evergreen vehicle of illegal gains. This wasn't meant only for the period it was enforced for, this was for future generations also," he said.

Hossain further contended that there was no reason for deviation from the expert committee report which said that the wholesale business should be given to the government. “No discussion why give it to the private players. No GOM meetings,” he said.

It was also submitted that Sisodia changed his mobile phone the very day Delhi Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena, filed a complaint to the CBI about the alleged scam.

CBI's counsel also made submissions and opposed Sisodia's bail in the corruption case. He said that Sisodia is the main architect of the entire conspiracy in formulation of the excise policy for the benefit of South group. He also said that there were intentional tactics on part of Sisodia to delay the trial.

The matter will now be heard on April 20.

Advocate Vivek Jain appeared for Sisodia who is in judicial custody in both the FIRs.

Sisodia was denied bail by the trial court, Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court in both ED and CBI cases.

The Supreme Court had also dismissed Sisodia's review petitions against the denial of bail. His curative petitions have also been dismissed.

His second bail pleas are presently pending before the special judge.

Manish Sisodia was first arrested by CBI and ED on February 26 and March 9 last year respectively.

In the FIR registered by the CBI, Sisodia and others have been accused of being instrumental in 'recommending' and 'taking decisions' regarding the 2021-22 excise policy, “without the approval of competent authority with an intention to extend undue favours to the licensee post tender”.

The central agency has also claimed that the AAP leader was arrested because he gave evasive replies and refused to cooperate with the investigation, despite being confronted with evidence.

On the other hand, the Enforcement Directorate has alleged that the excise policy was implemented as part of a conspiracy to give wholesale business profit of 12 percent to certain private companies, although such a stipulation was not mentioned in the minutes of meetings of Group of Ministers (GoM). 

The agency has also claimed that there was a conspiracy that was coordinated by Vijay Nair and other individuals along with South Group to give extraordinary profit margins to wholesalers. Nair was acting on behalf of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, according to the agency.

Sisodia's bail applications in both cases were rejected by Special Judge MK Nagpal (now transferred) on March 31 and April 28 last year. The Delhi High Court then denied bail to Sisodia in both cases after which he approached the Supreme Court challenging both these verdicts.

On October 30 last year, the Supreme Court refused to grant bail to the former Delhi deputy chief minister.