Delhi excise case | Why was party not impleaded despite claims of being ‘beneficiary’, top court asks Enforcement Directorate
The HinduThe Supreme Court on Wednesday asked why the Enforcement Directorate had stopped short of making the Aam Aadmi Party an accused in the Delhi liquor policy scam case despite claims that the party was a “beneficiary”. Bhatti, was hearing a petition filed by Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia disputing the cases registered against him by the CBI and the ED. The Delhi High Court had in May refused to grant Mr. Sisodia bail after agreeing with the CBI’s objection that he was an influential person who may use his power to influence witnesses and derail the case. In March, the trial court had dismissed his bail plea saying he was prima facie the “architect” of the alleged scam and had played the “most important and vital role” in the criminal conspiracy related to alleged payment of advance kickbacks of ₹90-100 crore meant for him and his colleagues in the Delhi government.