Delhi excise policy ‘scam’- Delhi HC issues notice to ED on AAP leader Sanjay Singh’s bail plea

Delhi excise policy ‘scam’: Delhi HC issues notice to ED on AAP leader Sanjay Singh’s bail plea

The Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday, seeking the agency’s response to a bail plea filed by AAP MP Sanjay Singh, who was arrested in connection to a money laundering case linked to the scrapped Delhi excise policy ‘scam’, reports PTI.

The notice, issued by a single-judge bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, scheduled the hearing for January 29, asking the probe agency to submit their reply by the next date of hearing.

Sanjay Singh’s lawyer, Mohit Mathur, argued that the AAP leader has been in custody for three months without any clear implication in the underlying offence. He stated that Singh’s arrest followed a statement made by the ED’s “star witness”.

Singh was apprehended by the ED on October 4 last year, marking the third arrest within the party concerning this case. Subsequently, he challenged a trial court’s rejection of his bail plea on December 22, 2023.

Also Read:AAP renominates Sanjay Singh to Rajya Sabha, court allows jailed leader to sign documents for nomination

On December 22, 2023, Special Judge M K Nagpal dismissed Singh’s bail application, stating that the evidence pointed to Singh’s involvement in money laundering linked to the alleged offence.

“…this court is of prima facie view that the case against (the) applicant is genuine and the said evidence and material shows (the) involvement of (the) applicant in the commission of the alleged offence of money laundering because he is shown to have been, directly or indirectly, involved in the process or activities connected with proceeds of crime,” the judge stated.

Also Read:Liquor scam: Delhi HC dismisses AAP leader Sanjay Singh’s plea challenging arrest

The Enforcement Directorate accused Singh of playing a key role in planning and executing the now-defunct excise policy, benefiting specific liquor manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers in exchange for financial gain.

The trial court noted Singh’s alleged connection to “proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 2 crore” and affirmed the legitimacy of the case against him.

The case revolves around purported corruption in the formulation and execution of the city government’s excise policy for 2021-22, later nullified. The CBI initiated an FIR over alleged corruption based on a recommendation by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena.

The trial court referenced the Supreme Court’s validation of the Enforcement Directorate’s case and its assertion that kickbacks were involved in formulating the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22.

Despite Singh’s argument that he was not named in the main CBI FIR, the trial court upheld his involvement in the money laundering case.