Delhi HC Seeks ED's Response on AAP MP Sanjay Singh's Plea Against Arrest By ED In Liquor Policy Case

AAP MP Sanjay Singh filed a plea in the Delhi High Court against his arrest in connection with a money laundering case in the excise policy matter.

File Photo of AAP MP Sanjay Singh

Source : PTI

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to present its response to the petition of AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who has filed a plea against his arrest in connection with a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. The matter pertains to alleged irregularities in the scrapped Delhi excise policy. This comes as earlier in the day, a Delhi court ordered an extension of Sanjay Singh's judicial custody until October 27. 

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, presiding over the matter, has directed the ED to present its official stance on the petition, as per news agency PTI. The court has scheduled a hearing on this issue for the coming Tuesday morning, PTI reported.

The counsel representing Sanjay Singh, a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, argued that proper procedure was not adhered to during his arrest. It was pointed out that Singh was apprehended by the investigating agency without receiving any prior summons or notice pertaining to the case. "I am on procedure," asserted the counsel, as quoted by PTI.

In response to the plea, the lawyer representing the ED requested additional time to prepare a comprehensive response to the petition. "Today, judicial custody is granted, and I am entitled to submit a reply. Kindly allow me two days," the ED's lawyer implored, as per PTI.

Earlier in the day, the matter was urgently mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula by a lawyer representing the Rajya Sabha MP, news agency PTI reported. Singh's lawyer contended that proper grounds for his arrest were not provided.

Sanjay Singh's Judicial Custody Extended Until October 27, Court Asks Him 'Not To Give Speeches'

Notably, Special Judge M K Nagpal issued a directive extending AAP leader Sanjay Singh's judicial custody until October 27 after it ended today, PTI reported.

During the brief hearing, the judge also instructed Singh "not to give speeches about unrelated matters" inside the courtroom, as quoted by PTI. He had made reference to industrialist Gautam Adani during the proceedings, expressing concerns about the ED's handling of his complaint against Adani. The judge responded sternly, stating, "No unrelated matter. If you wish to discuss Adani and Modi, I will request your production via video conferencing from now onwards."

Sanjay Singh alleged before the court that the ED had not asked him pertinent questions during his custodial interrogation. He went on to express his frustrations, saying, "All they asked is why did I take money from my mother, why I sent Rs 10,000 to my wife's account. ED has become an entertainment department, lies after lies. I gave them a complaint against Adani, but they did nothing."

Sanjay Singh was arrested by the anti-money laundering agency on October 4. The ED's money laundering case is a result of the Central Bureau of Investigation's FIR. The ED has accused him of playing a pivotal role in the formulation and implementation of the now-abandoned policy, which allegedly provided benefits to specific liquor manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers in exchange for financial considerations.

Both the CBI and the ED assert that irregularities occurred during the modification of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, and undue favours were extended to license holders. The Delhi government implemented the excise policy on November 17, 2021, but subsequently revoked it at the end of September 2022 amid corruption allegations.