In a big win for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail MP Sanjay Singh in the Delhi Liquor Policy case. The top court however said that the concession granted to Singh cannot be treated as a precedentfor others.
A bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna said that in view of statement made by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Sanjay Singh has to be released on terms and conditions that may be fixed by trial court. The court also allowed Singh to take part in political activities.
"Concession shall not be cited as precedent. Sanjay Singh entitled to continue with political activities." the bench pronounced order.
Justice Khanna had instructed ASG Raju before rising for lunch, to get intructions from the ED by 2 PM if Singh's further incarceration was needed.
Justice Khanna had told ED that Singh has been in custody for six months and no money has been recovered, there is no trace. "You argue on merits, if we feel instructions are required, we will list on Tuesday."
Today, the ED told the Supreme Court that it has no objection to give bail to Sanjay Singh.
ED Launched Vendetta Against Sanjay Singh, Claims Abhishek Manu Singhvi
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Singh and made several scathing arguements against ED's case. He claimed that the ED launched a vendetta after Singh held a press conference, saying, the agency officers came to his house right after that.
Singhvi told the court that the entire ED case against Singh is based on the statements of approver Dinesh Arora. He pointed to the apex court that Arora in fact made 9 exculpatory statements in favour of Singh before finally naming him.
He further said that Arora was granted bail on ED's "no-objection." And he later turned approver in case and the statements of the approver cannot be relied upon. Singhvi alleged that this no-objection was given to obtain the Section 50 statement later given by Arora, naming Singh.
ED's Allegations Against Sanjay Singh
The ED has alleged that Sanjay Singh is a "key conspirator" in the alleged Delhi Liquor Policy scam and he has been accused of being closely associated with Dinesh Arora and Amit Arora (others accused in th scam.)
While replying to Sanjay Singh's bail plea in the Delhi High Court, the ED said that Singh was involved in creating a special purpose vehicle called M/s Aralias Hospitality Pvt Ltd to launder the "proceeds of crime" that would have been generated from the business arising out of the Delhi liquor policy.
Singh has been accused of acquiring, possessing, concealing, dissipating and using proceeds of crime generated from the alleged loopholes in now scrapped Delhi liquor policy. So according to ED, AAP leaders conspired to make the new excise policy, in order to receive kickbacks from liquor wholesalers and manufacturers.
ED also allegedly found "confidential documents" relating to the investigation of the Delhi Liquor policy case during the search conducted on Singh's premises on October 4, 2023. He was arrested by the central agency following these raids.