AAP MP Sanjay Singh gets bail after 6 months in jail in liquor policy case

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh even as it posed some tough questions to the arresting agency, the Enforcement Directorate, including as to why he was arrested without trial or recovery of alleged charges. Imprisonment for more than six months in case of bribery. 2 Crores.

The investigating agency specifically asked whether Mr Singh was indeed required to be detained further and ultimately refused to challenge the opposition leader’s bail plea; Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing before the ED, said, “Without discussing the merits of the case, I will Make concessions on bail.”

“Nothing was found…no trace of the Rs 100-crore bribe allegedly received by the AAP for allotment of liquor licenses to the ‘South Group’…” the Supreme Court had earlier pointed out to the ED.

The Supreme Court also noted that Dinesh Arora, one of the defendants who later became an approver or government witness, did not actually implicate Mr. Singh in his initial statement.

Mr Arora was released on bail last August after turning a supporter.

Sanjay Singh has been lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail since his arrest in October last year in connection with the liquor consumption policy scam, which has angered the opposition and witnessed The arrests of Mr Sisodia and his former boss, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, come weeks after a general was arrested. election.

Mr. Singh was arrested on money laundering charges related to the alleged fraud.

The AAP leader’s previous bail pleas before lower courts, including the Delhi High Court, were rejected; indeed, the high court said in February that there was no “ground” for relief but directed the trial court to “expedite it once it commences” trial of this case”.

Read | AAP’s Sanjay Singh’s bail plea rejected in money laundering case

This afternoon, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Prasanna B Varale said Mr Singh could be released pending trial. , this relief was finally approved.

The terms and conditions of release will be determined by the trial court, the court said. Importantly, however, Mr Singh’s access to politics means he can campaign for AAP, which may face a shortage of big-name leaders ahead of the polls.

However, he was warned not to comment on the Department of Education investigation.

The court also said Mr Singh’s bail could not be seen as a precedent for similar cases.

News of Mr Singh’s release was welcomed by his colleague, Delhi Public Sector Minister Atish, who issued the “Satyameva Jayate”, or “Truth Will Win,” on X (formerly known as Twitter). Since the arrest of Chief Minister Kejriwal, Atishi has been leading AAP’s pushback and claims of innocence.

Read | Atishi claims that the BJP has made a switch proposal, saying these AAP leaders will be arrested soon

This morning, she claimed that four other senior AAP leaders, including herself, would be arrested by central agencies if they did not join the BJP – in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. The opposition has often accused the BJP of using central institutions to target rivals, especially ahead of elections. The BJP has also consistently denied the allegations.

NDTV Explained | Why the Enforcement Directorate arrested Arvind Kejriwal

What is the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam?

The Enforcement Directorate believes that the now-repealed liquor policy provided high profit margins of 185% for retailers and 12% for wholesalers. Of this, 6% (over Rs 600 crore) was bribes and the money was allegedly used to fund AAP’s poll campaign.

Read | Kejriwal was kept in a 14×8 feet cell.See what all courts allow

Chief Minister Kejriwal was declared by the ED as the “mastermind” of the alleged scam and was arrested on March 21. Mr Kejriwal continues to run the Delhi government and is currently in Tihar Jail until April 15.

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