ED opposes Manish Sisodia bail plea in excise policy case, says accused delaying trial

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) told a Delhi Court on Saturday that the accused persons including former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia were making deliberate and concerted attempts to delay the trial in Delhi excise policy case..ED Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain today began arguments for the ED before Special Judge (PC Act) Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Courts to oppose the bail plea filed by Sisodia. He contended that a total of 95 applications were moved by 31 accused in the case in the last few weeks. “If at all there is any kind of delay, it is at the instance of the accused and not prosecution. That will be a weighty factor to be considered… A total of 95 applications were filed by the accused persons. Some of them have the same prayers, some piecemeal. Present accused (Sisodia) has filed six applications… All these frivolous applications are being filed and these play a crucial role in the time being consumed,” Hossain contended..The ED counsel described the filing of multiple applications as a concerted effort to delay the commencement of trial.“Delays are being caused deliberately… The fact that there were applications being moved belatedly has been noted by this court and there is no explanation by them... At every stage there has been cooperation from our side... For the last one-month, inspection (of documents) has been going on in the most lackadaisical manner,” he said..Sisodia has been in custody since February last year.The ED case against Sisodia and other Aam Aadmi Party leaders originated out of a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2022 alleging that there were irregularities in framing and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy of 2021-22.It was stated that AAP leaders received kickbacks from liquor manufacturers through this policy.At least 16 persons have been arrested in the case so far. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha are among those currently in jail in the case..Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023. Following this, ED also arrested him on March 9 last year.His bail plea in both the cases were rejected by the trial court, Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court also rejected his review and curative petitions.However, last month, he moved fresh bail applications before the trial court..Pertinently, during the hearing today, Hossain also argued that though Supreme Court while denying bail to Sisodia had clarified that he can cite delay in trial as a ground for bail, the same can only be one of the considerations.The ED counsel will continue his further arguments on April 10.Meanwhile, Sisodia was also produced before the Court today. The Court extended his judicial custody till April 18..Earlier this week, Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur had appeared for Sisodia and argued in the CBI case. Mathur had said that the "so called scam" caused no loss to the public exchequer. "There is no loss to any private individual. None of us who are consumers have been cheated of anything. There are reports to show that the government revenue rose. I have been in custody for 13 months. I was granted interim bail for 3-4 days and I complied with all the directions," he had argued. On the triple test for grant of bail, Mathur had contended that Sisodia satisfies all the conditions. "There is nothing to show that I can influence any witnesses. Though there are allegations that I was the deputy CM etc but even that is over now."