AAP Will Be Named As Co-Accused In Liquor Excise Policy Case: Enforcement Directorate Informs Delhi High Court

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the Delhi High Court on Tuesday (14 May) that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will be named as a co-accused in the liquor excise policy case in its forthcoming prosecution complaint, as per a report by The Indian Express.

The ED counsel made this announcement during the hearing of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia’s bail petition related to the money laundering case involving the excise policy.

The probe agency has opposed Sisodia’s bail plea, accusing the defendants of making concerted efforts to delay the trial in the liquor policy case.

Last month, reports indicated that the ED was likely to file its latest prosecution complaint — equivalent to a supplementary chargesheet — against the AAP and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal before 15 May.

This move adheres to the 60-day deadline since the 15 March arrest of K Kavitha, a Telangana MLC and co-accused in the case.

In March, during a remand hearing for the Chief Minister in a Delhi court, the probe agency explicitly alleged that the AAP "has committed the offence of money laundering through Arvind Kejriwal…"

According to the same report, the argument for vicarious liability is based on Kejriwal’s alleged role — as Chief Minister — in the formulation of the liquor excise policy, which is considered the source of the generation of "tainted funds".