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

By OB Bureau On May 14, 2024

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will 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, LiveLaw reported.

Special counsel Zoheb Hossain appearing for ED told Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma that AAP will also be made accused in the case and a supplementary complaint/chargesheet will be filed. Earlier, the agency had told the Supreme Court that it is contemplating making 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, the report added.

Earlier, the bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had, while dismissing the challenge to arrest the party’s convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, held that a political party could be brought within the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

The judge had observed that the material put forth by the ED prima facie made it clear that Kejriwal is in charge of and responsible for the conduct of the business of AAP, and prima facie would be liable for affairs of the political party 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 the accused persons made concerted efforts to delay trial in the case.

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

Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan represented Sisodia in the court.