New Delhi: Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Thursday approached a Delhi court seeking interim bail in a money laundering case related to alleged excise scam so that he can take oath as a member of Rajya Sabha and attend the ongoing Parliament session.
Special Judge M K Nagpal has issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding Singh's plea and instructed the agency to respond by February 3, reported PTI.
Singh seeks interim bail from February 4 to 10 to fulfill his parliamentary duties. He was elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Delhi last month for a second term.
During the hearing, the judge said, “It is found that the main case is already listed for hearing before the court on February 3, 2024... Let notice of this application be issued to the IO (investigating officer)/ SPP (Special Public Prosecutor) for ED for the above said date and time."
"Let reply, if any, on behalf of ED be filed positively by the said date as it is observed that interim bail is being sought by the accused for the period with effect from February 4 to 10, 2024 for taking oath as a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and for attending the ongoing Parliamentary Session,” the judge stated, as per the PTI report.
The federal agency had arrested Singh on October 4.
On December 22, the court dismissed his bail application, observing that he was connected with the "proceeds of crime to the extent of Rs 2 crore” and that the case against him was "genuine".
According to the agency, Singh allegedly played a key role in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22, which benefited certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers, for monetary considerations.
Singh is accused of receiving Rs 2 crore which were alleged proceeds of the predicate or scheduled offence involving alleged corruption in formulating and executing the city government's excise policy.