Delhi, 20 April (HS). Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court today reserved its verdict on the bail plea of Delhi Excise scam accused and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Special judge Kaveri Baweja ordered the verdict to be pronounced on April 30.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has opposed Sisodia's bail plea. The agency has said that the excise policy was in favor of some wholesalers. Sisodia's lawyers are pressing for bail only because of the delay in the trial. For that they should file an affidavit, because a large number of separate applications were filed in this case. Therefore, it cannot be said that the trial is going on at a slow pace.

ED said that there was no meeting or discussion to justify increasing the profit margin from seven percent to 12 percent. Their argument is that there was no meeting and discussion earlier and it is not there even now, hence we have also done so. Within three days, a profit margin of 12 percent was introduced without any meeting or discussion. The gravity of the offense is extremely serious, as a policy was put in place which favored some wholesalers.

The investigating agency also said that the only reason for withdrawing the excise policy was the investigation. The report of the expert committee had said that the share of wholesale business should be given to the government. There was no discussion on this matter and why the wholesale business was given to private companies. There was a meeting with South Group at Oberoi Hotel. Where all the co-accused were present in the meeting. Some of them have now become government witnesses.

Earlier, during the hearing on April 10, ED had said that the court needs to decide whether the case is progressing very slowly. The court cannot yet reach the conclusion that Sisodia is not guilty. Citing the earlier decisions of the Supreme Court, the ED had said that the court will have to consider the case on the basis of merit.

ED had said that Sisodia was not fulfilling the dual conditions of Section 45 of the Money Laundering Act. Sisodia planted e-mails to pretend to deviate from the expert report. For this we also have documentary evidence, WhatsApp chat and e-mail.

It is noteworthy that on April 6, lawyer Zoheb Hussain, appearing for ED, had said that the delay in the trial is being used as the basis in Manish Sisodia's bail plea, whereas the delay is being done on behalf of the accused. It was said on behalf of Manish Sisodia that the trial is going on at a snail's pace. Whereas the Supreme Court in its decision on the bail petition has asked for early trial. ED had arrested Manish Sisodia from Tihar Jail after interrogation in this case on March 9, 2023. Sisodia was earlier arrested by the CBI on 26 February 2023.

Hindusthan Samachar/ Indrani