Excise policy case: Court reserves order on Manish Sisodia's bail
New Delhi, April 18: Rouse Avenue Court reserved the order on Delhi's Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's bail petition on Tuesday.
Special Judge MK Nagpal decided to reserve the order and fixed April 26 for the pronouncement of the order.
Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, representing Manish Sisodia in the Court, submitted that it is not the job of the ED to tell what happened in the GoM and the cabinet, the job of the ED should be to tell that if any crime was committed, and who benefited from it.
The lawyer contended that Sisodia could not be kept in custody only on the basis of speculations
Manish Sisodia's lawyer said that no money laundering case has been filed against him.
The Enforcement Directorate has also objected to the bail plea, claiming that "an illegal ecosystem was created in view to give illegal benefits to liquor cartels to get kickbacks".
Also Read | California gurdwara shootings: 17 held for series of shootings within Sikh community in California
Representing ED, Zohaib Hossain submitted before the Court that all the elements of conspiracy are present here in the matter. "Conspiracy is hatched in secrecy, the policy made in the public domain," submitted ED lawyer, adding that every process of activity dealing with proceeds of crime is money laundering.
ED, through its lawyer, further alleged that Sisodia played a crucial role in modifying 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," ED said.
"In the matter, the expert committee suggested that individuals will apply and they will get 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," it added.
Also Read | Heatwave warning issued for 8 states; check dos and don'ts
- ANI
