Liquor Policy: Manish Sisodia Moves Delhi High Court Against Cognizance Of ED Chargesheet

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia on Monday moved the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court order which took cognizance of ED's chargesheet against him in the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam.

Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri asked ED to respond to the petition and listed the matter for hearing on December 20 when a similar petition of AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal is also listed for hearing.

Sisodia has challenged the impugned order on the ground that mandatory sanction to prosecute him was not obtained by ED in the case.

Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhri appeared for Kejriwal. ED was represented by special counsel Zoheb Hossain.

Recently, the Court had issued notice on Kejriwal's plea against cognizance of the chargesheet over lack of sanction.

In another development, Justice Ohri had stayed the trial court proceedings against Congress leader P Chidambaram in the Aircel Maxis case after he challenged the cognisance of ED chargesheet on similar grounds.

Sisodia was granted bail by the Supreme Court in both ED and CBI case related to the alleged liquor scam.

He 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.

Title: Manish Sisodia v. ED