The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting raids at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in connection with the excise policy case. This comes as two top leaders of the party, former Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain and former Chief Minister Manish Sisodia are already lodged in prison and facing trials in cases related to financial irregularities.
Some other premises of linked people were also being covered, officials told PTI. Sanjay Singh's staff members and those linked to him were earlier questioned by the ED in this case.
It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP. The policy was subsequently scrapped and the Delhi lieutenant governor recommended a CBI probe, following which the ED registered a case under the PMLA.
AAP spokesperson Reena Gupta said, "Since Sanjay Singh was continuously raising questions on the issue of PM Modi and Adani, this is the reason why raids are being conducted at his residence. Nothing was found earlier, nothing will be found today. Raids were conducted yesterday at the residence of some journalists and today raids are conducted at the residence of Sanjay Singh."
RJD MP Manoj Jha termed the development as said but not surprising. He said, "It is sad, but not surprising. Now this series will continue till the election. PM Modi and Amit Shah have made the formal announcement for the 2024 elections. Yesterday, a raid was on NewsClick and all the journalists, today on Sanjay Singh."