May make AAP accused in excise case, ED tells SC

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday told the Supreme Court that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) could be named as an accused in connection with the Delhi excise scam in which two senior party functionaries - former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh-are already under arrest.

- Abraham Thomas

The federal agency was appearing before the bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti which is hearing a bail plea filed by Sisodia challenging his arrest in separate cases being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED in connection with the now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.

Additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for both agencies, said, "We are contemplating on making AAP an accused invoking Section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe it additionally for being vicariously liable. We have taken a decision in this regard." Section 70 of PMLA deals with offences by a company, which includes a firm or an association of individuals.

The bench asked Raju, "Be careful in making your statement. Will it be a separate offence or the same offence in the ED case? You answer it tomorrow." To this, Raju said that it has been decided that the charge may be different, but the offence would be the same. The court adjourned the matter to Tuesday.