AAP Will Be Made An Accused In Liquor Policy Scam Case: ED Tells Delhi High Court

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is going to be made an accused in the alleged liquor policy scam.

The development came while the central probe agency was opposing the plea filed by former Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the money laundering case.

Special counsel Zoheb Hossain appearing for ED told Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma that the Aam Aadmi Party will also be made accused in the case and a supplementary complaint/chargesheet will be filed.

Earlier, the agency had disclosed before the Supreme Court that is contemplating to make the political party an accused in the case and invoking Section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe the aspect of vicarious liability.

It is significant to note that only recently the bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had, while dismissing challenge to the arrest of party's convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, held that a political party can be brought within the purview of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

The judge had observed that the material put forth by the ED prima-facie make it clear that Kejriwal is in charge of and responsible for the conduct of the business of Aam Aadmi Party, and prima facie would be liable for affairs of the political party so as to attract Section 70(1) of PMLA.

So far, 17 arrests have been made in the case, Hossain told the court today. 

He further informed that accused no. 31, a spokesperson of AAP, will also be made an accused in the supplementary complaint. He also contended that concerted efforts were made by the accused persons to delay trial in the case. 

“More than 250 petitions and applications (have been filed) in this excise scam alone…,” he told court.

Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan represented Sisodia in the court. Sisodia has also moved plea seeking bail in the CBI case.