In a move that could spell more trouble for Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday registered a money laundering case against him in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy. The case was filed under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED, which took cognisance of a CBI FIR filed in the case, will probe if there were alleged irregularities in the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy unveiled in November last year. It will analyse if individuals and companies who were involved in the policy-making of this scheme and related entities generated any "proceeds of crime under the definition of PMLA" and if there was any possible creation of illegal or benami assets.
However, a top ED official told ANI that the agency had not filed any case against the Deputy CM.
The CBI had earlier named Sisodia and 14 others in its FIR and conducted raids at 31 locations including the AAP leader's residence. The agency has also issued Look Out Circular against some of the accused in the case.
It was alleged that irregularities were committed including modifications in the excise policy and undue favours extended to the licence holders including waiver or reduction in licence fee, an extension of L-1 license without approval etc.
The AAP claims that the CBI raids are being carried out as the BJP fears Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and that the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be a battle between the AAP chief and Modi.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal claimed on Tuesday that his colleague may be arrested in two to three days. “Looking at the enthusiasm of the youth in Gujarat, it appears Sisodia may be arrested in two to three days instead of ten days he believed earlier,” said Kejriwal in Gujarat's Bhavnagar.
Both Kejriwal and Sisodia are on a tour of the BJP-ruled state where Assembly polls are due by the year-end.
The BJP alleges that the AAP government in Delhi ignored infractions in the implementation of the excise policy and recommendations of an expert committee set up to reform liquor trade in the national capital.
