Delhi Liquor Scam / ED said- the case against Sisodia is not fabricated, we have evidence

Delhi Liquor Scam: The Supreme Court today (August 5) heard two bail petitions related to the bail of AAP leader Manish Sisodia. One petition is in the corruption case investigated by the CBI. At the same time, the other is in the money laundering case investigated by the ED. Both the petitions are related to bail in the liquor policy case. In the court, the ED opposed Manish's bail plea and said that it has documents that show that Sisodia is involved in the Delhi Excise Policy Scam. This is not a fabricated case.

The case was heard by a bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Vishwanathan. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju presented arguments on behalf of ED. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared on behalf of Sisodia.

Former Delhi Deputy CM Sisodia has sought bail in separate cases of corruption and money laundering related to the liquor policy scam. He says that he has been in custody for 17 months and the case has not yet started against him.

Manish has been in jail for 17 months

In the last hearing (July 29), ED had sought time to file its counter affidavit. After this, the bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Vishwanathan adjourned the hearing till August 5.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for ED, had objected to Sisodia's petitions. He had said that the Supreme Court's order of June 4 gave Sisodia the right to file a new bail petition only in the trial court, not in the Supreme Court.

Earlier on July 11, just before the hearing on Manish Sisodia's bail review petition in the Supreme Court, Justice Sanjay Kumar recused himself from the bench, after which the hearing was postponed. Manish Sisodia's bail petitions have been rejected several times in the trial court, High Court and Supreme Court.

Sisodia has said in his petition that there has been no progress in the case against him since October 2023, he has been in jail for 17 months without a case. Therefore, the previous petition seeking bail should be reconsidered.

CBI arrested Sisodia on 26 February 2023 in a corruption case related to the liquor policy case. After this, he resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on 28 February. At the same time, ED arrested him on 9 March in a money laundering case. Manish has been lodged in Tihar Jail since then.

Liquor policy scam and Sisodia's connection, 5 points

1. New liquor policy implemented on November 2021

Delhi's then Deputy CM Manish Sisodia announced the new liquor policy on 22 March 2021. He said that with this policy, liquor shops would go into private hands. When Sisodia was asked the purpose of bringing the new policy, he gave two arguments. First - the mafia rule will end. Second- The government treasury will increase.

The new liquor policy 2021-22 was implemented on 17 November 2021. This took the government out of the liquor business and this business went into private hands. Due to giving many big discounts, liquor was sold in large numbers. This increased the government treasury, but this new policy started facing opposition.

2. Allegation of scam in liquor policy in July 2022

On July 8, 2022, Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar alleged a scam in the new liquor policy. He submitted a report related to this to LG VK Saxena. It was told that Sisodia gave undue advantage to the licensed liquor traders. On the other hand, LG has also said that changes were made in the liquor policy without his and the cabinet's approval.

3. CBI and ED registered a case on August 2022

LG Saxena demanded a CBI inquiry on the basis of the Chief Secretary's report. The investigating agency registered a case on 17 August 2022. In this, Manish Sisodia, three retired government officers, 9 businessmen and two companies were made accused. Cases were registered against all of them under sections related to corruption.

On August 19, raids were conducted at 31 locations in seven states including Sisodia's house and office. On this, Sisodia claimed that the CBI did not find anything. Here, on August 22, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a case of money laundering after taking information about the case from the CBI.

4. July 2022 government canceled the new policy

Seeing the controversy increasing, on July 28, 2022, the Delhi government canceled the new liquor policy. Decided to implement the old policy again. On July 31, the government said in a cabinet note that despite more sales of liquor, the government's earnings decreased because retail and wholesale traders were withdrawing from the liquor business.

5. CBI arrested Sisodia in February 2023

Sisodia held the excise department, so he was allegedly made the main accused in the scam. After questioning several times, the investigating agency arrested him on February 26. He is currently in jail. The CBI accused Sisodia that as the Excise Minister, he took arbitrary and unilateral decisions, which caused huge losses to the treasury and benefited the liquor traders.