The Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the Delhi High Court that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to be named as an accused in the alleged liquor policy scam.

During the opposition to the plea filed by former Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) disclosed this development. Special counsel Zoheb Hossain, representing the ED, informed Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma that the Aam Aadmi Party would also be implicated in the case. Additionally, he stated that a supplementary complaint/chargesheet would be submitted.

Previously, the agency had revealed before the Supreme Court its deliberation to designate the political party as an accused in the case, intending to invoke Section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to investigate the aspect of vicarious liability.

It's noteworthy that the bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had recently, while rejecting a challenge to the arrest of the party's convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, ruled that a political party can indeed fall under the ambit of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

The judge had noted that the evidence presented by the ED prima facie indicates that Kejriwal is in charge of and accountable for the operations of the Aam Aadmi Party. Consequently, he would prima facie be accountable for the party's affairs, potentially falling under the purview of Section 70(1) of the PMLA. Furthermore, Hossain informed the court today that a total of 17 arrests have been made in connection with the case.