Sisodia delaying trial: ED opposes his bail plea in excise case

ARGUING THAT former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was responsible for drawing up the excise policy which led to the generation of proceeds of crime, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Saturday opposed his second bail plea moved before a trial court.

The ED’S special counsel, Zoheb Hossain, also argued that the delay in the trial — which is used by the counsel of the accused as a reason to demand bail — is being caused by the accused, and not the prosecution. “... over 90 applications have been moved by the accused,” he told the court of Special Judge Kaveri Baweja.

The court, meanwhile, extended Sisodia’s judicial custody till April 18, and will hear further arguments on his bail plea on April 10.

Sisodia’s counsel had moved a bail plea in Rouse Avenue Court a few months after the Supreme Court had rejected his bail plea. The ED had then told the apex court that it would conclude the trial in the next six to eight months. Almost six months have passed since, and charges are yet to be framed.

Opposing Sisodia’s bail, Hossain also said the offence of money laundering in the case could not have been possible without him. According to the ED’S allegations, wholesale distributors earned a fixed fee of Rs 581 crore because the commission (distribution fee) was increased from 5% in the previous policy to 12% in the new excise policy which was later scrapped.

It was on the basis of the increased profits earned by wholesalers that the Supreme Court had in October denied bail to Sisodia. These excess profits amounted to Rs 338 crore.

On Saturday, the ED again argued that the Rs 338-crore amount was the proceeds of crime. Hossain argued that there was destruction of evidence. “Vijay Nair (co-accused and alleged middleman between South Group lobby and AAP) was acting under directions and with the complete confidence of Sisodia,” added Hossain.