Mallika Dureja
Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate arrested former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on charges of money laundering in an excise policy case, after interrogating him in Tihar prison.
After questioning him for the second time in three days, the central investigation agency detained the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party. The ED had initially recorded his statement on March 7 for approximately five hours.
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Sisodia was interrogated on various aspects of the case, including the alleged destruction of evidence by frequently switching phones, the increase of the profit margin for wholesalers from 5% to 12%, kickbacks paid by the alleged South Group to Vijay Nair on behalf of AAP leaders, and the decision to alter a Group of Ministers report pertaining to policy.
Sisodia is presently in judicial custody following his arrest by the CBI on February 26 in connection with the alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi excise policy case.
Immediately following Sisodia’s detention by the ED, Delhi’s chief minister tweeted, “Manish was previously arrested by the CBI. The CBI was unable to discover any evidence or money during the operation. Tomorrow, his parole hearing will occur. He was detained by the ED today. This serves only one purpose, which is to keep Manish Sisodia in jail as long as feasible by filing false charges against him. The masses are watching and will respond appropriately.”
