Sisodia sent to 7-day ED custody; he destroyed his phone, agency tells court
The excise scam started with the drafting of the Delhi excise policy, which was done by AAP leader Manish Sisodia and others, the ED told the court on Friday and Sisodia was presented before a Delhi court.
The Enforcement Directorate on Friday told the court that the liquor policy in connection with which Delhi's former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has been arrested was implemented as part of a conspiracy to give wholesale business to certain private companies. Zoheb Hossain appearing for the ED told the court that there was no suggestion from the public to fix 12% of the wholesale profit margin to private entities. "There was a conspiracy to frame the policy in such a manner so as to ensure illegal benefits to some persons," ED's lawyer told the court, as quoted by Livelaw. Read | 'Next will be Arvind Kejriwal…': Alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar's warning
Delhi Rouse Avenue Court remanded Manish Sisodia to 7 days ED custody after hearing both the sides. The plea for Sisodia's bail in the CBI case has been posted for hearing on March 21.
ED has sought a 10-day custody of Sisodia to probe the money laundering aspect of the case. Arguing for the ED, Hossain said the conspiracy behind the policy was coordinated by Vijay Nair and others along with the South cartel. And the entire scam started with the drafting of the policy which was done by Sisodia and others, the ED told the court.
As the ED read out the allegations against Sisodia, it told the court that the South cartel, which comprises Telangana MLC K Kavitha, got control of 9 zones and became a serious stakeholder in the excise business in Delhi. Vijay Nair was negotiating with the South cartel on behalf of the chief minister and the deputy chief minister of Delhi (Sisodia), the ED said.
ED said the investigation revealed that Sisodia personally got the file of Indospitits liquor company cleared by the excise department, LiveLaw reported. Sisodia used SIM cards and purchased in the name of others, the ED alleged. He purchased phones on Flipkart in some other person's name and did not make payment, while he destroyed his own phone, the ED said.
The ED said the proceeds of the crime quantified for over ₹292 crore and to reveal the entire modus operandi, the agency would need to confront other persons whom it has already summoned. Sisodia's statement differed from others who have been questioned in connection with the case, the ED said.
Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in the liquor case on February 26. As he was in CBI custody, he was regularly interrogated by the ED. On Wednesday, the ED arrested Sisodia in a money laundering case in connection with the alleged liquor scam.
Sisodia's lawyer Dayan Krishnan opposed the 10-day appeal of the ED and argued that the policy after being drafted by Sisodia and others was approved by the then L-G. Asking where the money went, Sisodia's lawyer said, "In money laundering, you're expected to look at concealment, possession and use. It has to be traced to the individual. Not a single penny has been traced to me. We are talking about a premium investigating agency. Why have they not been able to trace a single penny to me?"
(With inputs from agencies, LiveLaw)
