Reliable legal sources close to CNN-News 18 has learned that there are ongoing deliberations among Enforcement Directorate whether AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) will be named as an accused in the Delhi liquor scam case.
This is said to be in ED’s plans after the Supreme Court asked why the party has not been named as beneficiary if the probe agency and CBI’s case is that money was taken for party fund.
Top legal sources confirmed to News18 that discussions are underway as to whether AAP will be made an accused or not. Legal opinions are being sought, though the final call would be of the investigating officer, sources said.
ED is expected to inform SC that “all actions according to available evidence to be taken”, sources said, adding that AAP may be roped in as accused in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case arising out of the Delhi liquor excise policy case.
This development comes a day after AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was arrested after raids were conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) his residence in Delhi in connection with the Delhi liquorgate. Sanjay Singh’s aides were searched by ED earlier this year.
On Tuesday, AAP leader Manish Sisodia’s close aide Dinesh Arora and YSRCP MP Magunta Reddy’s son Raghav Manguta turned approver in the money laundering case pertaining to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
Speaking on ED action against her party colleague Sanjay Singh, AAP leader Atishi said Dinesh Arora has been forced to turn approver. Without any proof they have arrested Sanjay Singh…BJP is ending jail to anyone who is against them. AAP is not scared from BJP’s jail threats. Dinesh Arora is forced to turn approver.”
Arora, who was arrested in the money laundering case in July, had also turned approver in the CBI case wherein his statements had played a crucial role in the arrest of former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.
Sanjay Singh’s party colleague and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is lodged in jail in connection with the same liquor policy scam. The former Delhi deputy CM and excise minister was first arrested by the CBI on February 26 for his alleged role in the scam. He resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on February 28.
ED Case of Liquor Scam | Status of Key Accused Persons
-Approver: Sarath Reddy, Dinesh Arora, Raghav Magunta
-In Jail: Manish Sisodia, Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally, Arun Ramachandran Pillai, Sameer Mahendru
-On Bail: Benoy Babu (interim bail), Rajesh Joshi (regular bail), Gautam Malhotra (regular bail), Butchibabu Gorantla (regular bail)
The Delhi liquor scam case or the excise policy case pertains to allegations by the ED and the CBI that the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge that has been strongly refuted by the AAP.
Amid all this, Union minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said the deputy chief minister of Delhi and others have landed up in jail in connection with an excise policy case and the turn of its “kingpin”, who is still out, will also come.
Talking to reporters at the Swami Vivekananda airport in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, Anurag Thakur targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that those who were elected to power by raising the slogan of “India against corruption” have now been found steeped in corruption.
(With PTI inputs)
Comments
0 comment