Enforcement Directorate Provisionally Attaches Assets

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced on Friday that it has provisionally attached assets worth more than Rs 52 crore in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case. The attached assets include immovable properties and movable assets belonging to AAP leader Manish Sisodia, his wife Seema Sisodia, and other accused individuals.

Details of Attached Assets

A provisional order has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for the attachment of immovable properties worth Rs 7.29 crore. This includes two assets owned by Manish Sisodia and his wife Seema Sisodia, as well as the land/flat owned by Rajesh Joshi (director of Chariot Productions Media Pvt Ltd.) and Gautam Malhotra.

The attachment also covers movable assets worth Rs 44.29 crore, which includes bank balances of Manish Sisodia amounting to Rs 11.49 lakh, Brindco Sales Pvt. Ltd. with an amount of Rs 16.45 crore, and other assets.

The total value of the attached assets is Rs 52.24 crore, according to the statement released by the ED.

Background: Arrest and Judicial Custody

Manish Sisodia, the former deputy chief minister of Delhi, was arrested by the ED in March in connection with this case. He is currently in judicial custody.

Delhi High Court Denies Bail to Manish Sisodia in Liquorgate Case

In a related development, the Delhi High Court has denied bail to Manish Sisodia in the liquorgate case. The ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have alleged that the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 allowed cartelisation and favored certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has strongly refuted these charges. The excise policy was subsequently scrapped, and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi recommended a CBI probe, leading to the ED registering a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

(With PTI inputs)