Why Aam Aadmi Party not an accused in excise case: Supreme Court asks ED
Hindustan TimesThe Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Enforcement Directorate to explain why the Aam Aadmi Party — which, according to the federal anti-money laundering agency is the main beneficiary of alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22 —was not made an accused in the case in which former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, among others, is facing trial. Read here: Sanjay’s Singh arrest in Delhi excise policy case sparks political firestorm The observation by the court came while hearing appeals filed by Sisodia, seeking bail in separate cases being investigated by ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation related to alleged irregularities in the policy. The bench told Singhvi that the ED charge sheet alleged that the new policy raised the profit margin for liquor retailers and dealers from 5% to 12%. In the new policy, the excise duty was subsumed in the licence fee, and since the licence fee was hiked substantially up to ₹5 crore, higher profit margin was offered,” Singhvi said.