In an unprecedented move, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh is slated to take the oath as a Rajya Sabha member on Monday while under police custody. The Delhi court granted special permission for Singh to participate in the ceremony, marking a historic moment in Indian parliamentary history.
Singh, who was renominated by the AAP for another term in January 2024, has been in jail due to his connection with a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. His trial, initially set to conclude on February 9, has been extended until February 17.
Expressing her joy, Anita Singh, Sanjay Singh’s wife, remarked, “It’s a matter of happiness for us. This is happening for the first time in history that a leader would come out from jail to take an oath again as a member of the Parliament. I want to thank our elder brother (Delhi CM) Arvind Kejriwal for showing trust in him.”
The court’s directives for the oath-taking ceremony include restricting Singh from using mobile phones or engaging with any accused, suspect, witness, or media persons during the event. However, family members and lawyers have been granted permission to accompany him.
Sanjay Singh had initially requested seven days of interim bail to attend the ongoing Parliament session from February 5 to February 9. However, he later withdrew the request, citing a prior commitment in Sultanpur on February 7 for another case hearing. Instead, Singh sought permission to go to Parliament on February 5 for the oath-taking.
In response, the court dismissed the application for interim bail, stating, “The application seeking interim bail of Sanjay Singh is being dismissed as not pressed. However, the jail superintendent concerned is directed to ensure that the accused is taken to Parliament on February 5 by 10 am under adequate security for the purpose of taking oath as a Member of Rajya Sabha, and after the oath, he be brought back to the jail.”
Sanjay Singh’s oath-taking from jail is a significant event that underscores the complexities and legal intricacies surrounding the involvement of politicians facing legal challenges in parliamentary proceedings.
Sources By Agencies
