A Delhi court has granted an extension of custody to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh until October 13 in connection with a money laundering case linked to the now-defunct Delhi liquor excise policy for the year 2020-21. The decision comes after Singh’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 4, following searches conducted at his residence as part of the ED’s investigation into money laundering associated with the excise policy case.
The ED had sought a five-day extension of custody for Singh, citing alleged non-cooperation by the AAP MP during the probe. In its chargesheet, the ED had asserted that Sanjay Singh played a pivotal role in formulating and implementing the excise policy, which has since been scrapped. The chargesheet also claimed that liquor manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers had benefited from the policy. Singh is the second AAP leader to be arrested in connection with the case, following former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
The ED’s chargesheet had further alleged that restaurant owner Dinesh Arora had close ties to both Singh and Sisodia. Arora had been arrested by the ED in July, with the agency contending that he played a significant role in the case.
According to the ED’s allegations, in 2020, Arora received a call from the AAP MP, during which Singh mentioned that the Delhi assembly elections were approaching, and the party needed funds.
The AAP strongly criticized the arrest of its senior leader, asserting that despite a year of investigating the alleged liquor scam, no concrete evidence had been found. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had remarked on the day of Singh’s arrest that desperate measures were being taken by those facing defeat.
In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defended the arrest and labeled Kejriwal as the ‘kingpin’ of the liquor scam. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed that the public had recognized Kejriwal’s involvement in the liquor scam, alleging that businessman Dinesh Arora had admitted to a meeting at the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence.
The case has garnered significant attention in Delhi’s political landscape, with both AAP and BJP trading accusations and counterclaims related to the alleged liquor scam and Singh’s arrest.
Sources By Agencies
