Delhi liquor scam: SC seeks proof against Manish Sisodia in money laundering case; hurls tough questions at ED, CBI

The Supreme Court said that the Enforcement Directorate court could not implicate Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor scam, according to the reports.

The court said that Vijay Nair, the AAP communication chief and businessman, had involvement, but the probe agency has not been able to prove Manish Sisodia’s connection so far.

The court questioned how he could be brought under the Money Laundering Act since the money was not directed towards him, according to the media reports.

The apex court stated that if he was associated with a company, vicarious liability could be considered. Otherwise, the prosecution's case weakened. The court said that money laundering formed a distinct offence.

The court emphasized the need for the probe agency to establish a clear chain of financial transactions. It acknowledged the difficulty in doing so, given the covert nature of such activities, but stressed the importance of the agency's expertise in this matter.

The court raised questions about the specified amounts of Rs100 crore and Rs 30 crore, asking who provided these sums to the accused. It pointed out that multiple people could have made such payments, without direct links to the liquor policy.

The court sought the evidence supporting the allegations.

It noted that aside from Dinesh Arora's statement, there seemed to be a lack of additional corroborative evidence, casting a shadow over the completeness of the established chain.

The court said that policy changes, even if flawed, would not amount to a crime unless there was an element of financial offense.

It underscored that it was the involvement of money that transformed it into an offence.