AAP leader Sanjay Singh approached the Supreme Court seeking bail in a money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection to the Delhi excise policy scam. The AAP leader has challenged a February 9 order of the Delhi High Court rejecting his bail plea.
Dismissing the bail plea, the Delhi High Court directed the trial court to expedite the trial. The High Court observed that there is no ground for grant of bail. The court added that no unnecessary adjournment be sought by either side. The trial court rejected Sanjay Singh’s bail plea on December 22, 2023.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 4, 2023 after the agency carried out a search at his residence. He has been in judicial custody since October 13, 2023.
The money laundering case against Sanjay Singh involves allegations that he played an important role in framing and implementing the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy which was allegedly aimed at benefiting certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.
Previously, Sanjay Singh had lodged a plea challenging his arrest on the ground that it was an abuse of the legal process and in violation of the Supreme Court’s verdict in the M3M Reality case.
The Delhi High Court rejected the plea on October 20,2023 and held that the Enforcement Directorate is a premiere investigating agency and imputing political motives to it may have an impact on the image of the country.
Sanjay Singh then approached the Supreme Court on this aspect which is also pending before the top court. When the matter came up for hearing before the top court on November 20, 2023, it granted the AAP leader the liberty to approach the trial court for bail. The trial court and the High Court then rejected his bail plea leading to a present appeal before the apex court.