Manish Sisodia sent to 7-day ED custody

Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia has been sent to the Enforcement Directorate's custody for seven days in the Delhi liquor policy case. The central agency had sought at least 10 days to question the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister over alleged money laundering in framing the liquor policy, which was later scrapped.Earlier, yje ED on Friday told the court that Manish Sisodia had a direct role in the alleged liquor scam. The ED told the court the policy was framed without accepting the views of the expert committee to benefit certain individuals. It said that the policy was framed in such a way as to ensure that select wholesalers received a profit margin of 12 percent, six more than what it should have been.

The margin of profit was kept at 12 percent, which was completely against the policy, said the ED and added that it has proof that the decision was made at Sisodia's behest. The central agency also added that clauses in the policy were diluted at the insistence of Manish Sisodia "just to benefit a few private entities". It said such tweaks in the policy led to cartelisation. The ED today told the special court it wants to follow where the money trail in the Delhi liquor policy case leads. The ED said the proceeds of the crime is worth at least Rs 292 crore. Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on February 26 and by the ED on Thursday on charges of money laundering in connection with the case. He was sent to judicial custody till March 20.