Delhi excise policy case: Opposing Manish Sisodia's bail plea, ED says no delay on its part
Manish Sisodia, in the Delhi excise policy case are making a conscious attempt to delay the trial.
Opposing the bail plea of Sisodia, the counsel for ED contended that there has been no delay from the side of the prosecution. Rather, the accused have made deliberate and concerted attempts to delay the trial, the ED alleged.
The agency further averred that 95 applications have been moved by 31 accused (before the court) in the case, including six applications by Sisodia. The ED's counsel alleged that majority of the applications moved by the accused are frivolous.
The counsel went on to argue that for the last one month, inspection of documents has been going on in the «most lackadaisical manner» by the accused. «At every stage, there has been cooperation from our side,» the counsel added. He further alleged that some applications have been moved «belatedly» by the accused only with the intent to delay the trial. Significantly, he argued that the delay in trial cannot be the sole basis for seeking bail by the accused (Sisodia). The ED further argued that Sisodia was responsible for the Delhi excise policy for the sole intention to establish an apparatus for generation of proceeds of crime.
It might be mentioned here that a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna on October 30 had turned down the bail plea of Sisodia. Dismissing Sisodia's bail plea, the bench had recorded the «assurance» given by the investigating agencies that the trial in the case will be concluded within six to eight months. The SC
