The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that it plans to make the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) a defendant in the money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy case.
This declaration came as the ED opposed the bail application of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the mentioned case. “AAP is going to be made a co-accused in the next prosecution complaint (chargesheet) to be filed in the case,” ED’s counsel contended before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who is hearing arguments on Sisodia’s bail plea, as PTI reported.
The probe agency’s lawyer further asserted that accused individuals are making concerted efforts to delay the process of framing charges in the case.
In seeking bail for him, Sisodia’s legal representative argued that the ED and the CBI are continuing to make arrests in the money laundering and corruption case, indicating no likelihood of an early conclusion to the trial.
Also Read:Delhi excise policy case: ED alleges AAP’s Manish Sisodia prolonging trial; denies bail
Earlier on May 8, both the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation requested additional time before the Delhi High Court to respond to former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia’s bail petitions related to the excise policy case.
Meanwhile, Sisodia’s counsel, Vivek Jain, highlighted that the agency had been investigating the case for eighteen months. “On October 30, they stated before the Supreme Court that they would conclude the trial within six months,” he noted.
Also Read:Delhi court permits jailed AAP leader Manish Sisodia to visit ailing wife once a week
In response, the prosecutor, representing the probe agency, mentioned that the present bail petition differed from previous proceedings. Justice Sharma inquired about the time required to file a response, to which Hossain explained that the investigating officer was deeply engaged in the investigation.
Jain countered, arguing against further incarceration, stating, “They go on filing successive complaints, make statements before the SC…and then come before your lordship and say I’m still investigating.”
Sisodia had moved a petition before the high court against the trial court’s decision on April 30, which denied him bail in the money laundering and corruption cases filed by the ED and CBI, respectively. In refusing bail to Sisodia, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja noted that the accused were prolonging the trial in the excise policy case by submitting frivolous applications. The trial court observed that after the Supreme Court’s denial of bail to Sisodia in October 2023, almost all the accused in the excise policy case had requested hard copies of the relied-upon documents.