Contemplating to make AAP an accused in Delhi liquor policy case: CBI, ED to Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The CBI and ED on Monday submitted before the Supreme Court that they are contemplating making the Aam Aadmi Party an accused in the Delhi liquor policy case.

Opposing bail plea by former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju on behalf of CBI and ED told a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and S V N Bhatti that he has instructions to state that the agencies are considering making AAP an accused, invoking legal provisions on “vicarious liability” and also Section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The court, however, asked Raju to clarify his stand on Tuesday, October 17, whether there will be separate charge against the AAP in cases being probed by two central agencies.

The bench also asked Raju to be careful with his statement as he said that would be the same offence

"Will it be a separate or the same offence in the ED case? Answer it tomorrow," the bench told him.

The court said in the corruption case, it will certainly be a separate charge. It asked further, will it be a separate charge in the CBI matter?

Raju replied that charge may be separate, but offence would be the same. The bench asked him to check up on this.

During the hearing, the bench asked Raju as to why arguments on framing of charge have not yet commenced and when they would begin.

"You cannot keep somebody behind ad infinitum because you are not confident as to when you can argue," the bench said, while adding once the chargesheet is filed, arguments must commence.

The CBI and ED alleged that AAP used the money for campaigning in the Goa assembly elections. They also claimed that AAP was a beneficiary of the kickbacks received from stakeholders who got liquor licences as part of a quid pro quo.

The court was hearing the bail plea by Sisodia who was arrested in the liquor policy scam case on February 26, 2023.