AAP to be made accused in money laundering case, ED tells Delhi HC

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court of its intention to name the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as an accused in the money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy case.

The statement was made during the hearing of the bail application of Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, who is implicated in the same case.

The ED's counsel stated before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma that AAP would be included as a co-accused in the forthcoming prosecution complaint (chargesheet). The court, after hearing the arguments on Sisodia's bail applications in the money laundering and corruption cases filed by the ED and CBI, decided to reserve its orders.

It's worth noting that a petition by AAP's national chief, Arvind Kejriwal, arguing that a political party is not subject to the anti-money under laundering law, is currently consideration in the high court. Recently, the high court upheld Kejriwal's arrest in the case, ruling that Section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which pertains to companies, applies in this case. The ED had drawn a parallel between AAP and a company, with Kejriwal as its director.

The ED's lawyer highlighted the concerted efforts by the accused to delay the framing of charges in the case.