ED opposes Sisodia's bail plea, says 'illegal ecosystem created to give benefits to liquor cartels to get kickbacks'
New Delhi, April 12: Enforcement Directorate (ED) has opposed the bail plea moved by Delhi's former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case related to the Excise case.
"An Illegal ecosystem was created to give illegal benefits to liquor cartels to get kickbacks," the ED said while opposing the plea.
Zohaib Hossain, representing the ED, told the Court that the case has all of the elements of a conspiracy. "Conspiracy is hatched in secrecy, the policy made in the public domain," submitted the ED lawyer. "Every process of activity dealing with proceeds of crime is money laundering," he added.
The ED lawyer further said that Sisodia was instrumental in drafting and implementing the modified policy.
"We have proof that the policy was modified without any deliberation and discussion. And we also have sufficient statements from various concerned persons to show that the profit margin increased from 6 per cent to 12 per cent was meant as kickbacks," he added.
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The expert committee recommended that individuals apply and receive two retail vends. This was to avoid cartelisation. "This was supposed to happen through the lottery system but Manish Sisodia preferred the limited entity model."
"If the policy was genuine, why were emails planted by Manish Sisodia in favour of the policy?" ED asked.
"Emails were planted through Minority Commission Chairman. Sisodia got emails planted on the mail address of excise dept which was the same address where the public comments were sought obverse the policy. Fabricated emails to show public approval for a policy. This is a sham approval."
On the wife's health, ED stated, "Other people and family have been taking care of his wife for long. While he was holding 18 portfolios and was holding public meetings, there were other people attending to his wife. The humanitarian ground can't be used here."
After hearing all of the ED's arguments, Special Judge MK Nagpal scheduled rebuttal arguments for April 18, 2023, to be given by Manish Sisdodia's lawyer.
Originally, Manish Sisodia's lawyer, Advocate Vivek Jain, maintained that no PMLA case had been filed against him.
"Section 45 of PMLA would come against me only if an offence under Section 3 is made out," he said.
"ED's reply opposing my bail doesn't even show I have concealed any proceeds of crime or acquired any proceeds of crime, or I projected proceeds of crime. Not a single rupee has come into my account or my family's account. They have raided my home, and they have checked my bank accounts. They even have gone to my native place," the lawyer argued.
During the arguments for his bail, Manish Sisodia was physically produced before the Court on Wednesday.
The Rouse Avenue Court was hearing a bail request from Delhi's former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case involving alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi's excise policy (GNCTD).
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- ANI
