Delhi High Court Seeks ED’s Response On AAP MP Sanjay Singh’s Plea Challenging Arrest, Remand In Excise Policy Case

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought response of the Enforcement Directorate in the plea moved by Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh challenging his arrest by and remand to in the money laundering case related to the liquor policy scam.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice on Singh’s plea and listed the matter for hearing next on Tuesday.

Earlier today, Singh was remanded today to judicial custody in the case after he was produced before Special Judge MK Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court today at 2 PM.  

The AAP leader was arrested on October 4 by the Enforcement Directorate. This was after searches were conducted at his residence in the national capital. Singh is the third AAP leader to be arrested in the matter. He was remanded to five days of ED custody, which was extended to further three days.

During the hearing today, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari appearing for Singh submitted that the ED arrested the AAP leader, who is a reputed leader in the country, without complying due process of law. He also called the action “rampant abuse of process of law.”

He further submitted that Singh, in the past one year, was neither summoned nor called for interrogation by the ED and was straightaway arrested on October 05.

“They come to my house, carry out search. Seizure memo is prepared. It's not something incriminating. In the evening, without ever being called, I am arrested straightaway,” Chaudhari said.

He added: “This is high time that their (ED) bluff is called. I wish the trial judges start probing the material and half of the cases happening in the country will stop.”

On the other hand, ED’s special counsel Zoheb Hossain sought time for filing response in the matter as factual things were being argued on behalf of Singh. 

The raids were conducted by ED at Singh’s residence after he was named by businessman Dinesh Arora, accused in the case, who later turned approver in both ED and CBI cases.

ED alleges that an employee of Dinesh Arora delivered Rs. 2 crores to Sanjay Singh's house on two occasions and the agency has to confront the AAP leader with digital evidence.

ED has alleged that the excise policy was implemented as part of a conspiracy to give wholesale business profit of 12% to certain private companies. It has said that such a stipulation was not mentioned in the minutes of meetings of Group of Ministers (GoM).

The agency also alleges that there was a conspiracy which was coordinated by Vijay Nair and other individuals along with South Group to give extraordinary profit margin to wholesalers. It was contended that Nair was acting on behalf of Sisodia.

Title: Sanjay Singh v. Union of India & Anr.