A Delhi court has granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh for five days, a day after his arrest in connection with a money laundering case linked to the defunct liquor policy.
The ED revealed that a businessman had transferred ₹3 crore to Mr. Singh, and this amount is integral to the money trail in the Delhi liquor policy case. The basis for the ED’s submission is the statements made by Delhi businessman Dinesh Arora, an accused in the liquor policy case who has now become an approver.
The ED informed the court that digital evidence has been seized from the premises of the AAP Member of Parliament (MP) and that they intend to confront him with this evidence. They alleged that Sarvesh, an employee of Arora, delivered the money, asserting a direct link to the proceeds of the crime.
Sanjay Singh’s legal counsel argued that Arora, who has now become an approver, was previously arrested by the same ED, and Mr. Singh had not been summoned in the case before. The counsel questioned the ED’s claim that they had conducted 239 searches and asked if they intended to confront Singh with the evidence from these searches.
In response to queries about the timing of Mr. Singh’s arrest, the ED stated that Arora’s statement regarding his ₹2 crore payment to the AAP leader was recorded in August.
Regarding the accusation that the statement against Sanjay Singh was obtained due to inducement, the ED refuted this claim, asserting that Dinesh Arora had become an approver based on a judicial order and that allegations of inducement were unfounded.
Sanjay Singh vehemently denied the allegations against him, characterizing them as “lies.” He expressed his willingness to face the maximum punishment if any of the evidence proved true but maintained that this case was driven by vendetta.
The ED objected to Singh’s comments, stating that the court was not a political forum.
Sanjay Singh’s arrest comes after extensive searches at his residence. He is the second senior AAP leader to be arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in the liquor policy case, following former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Mr. Sisodia, who was arrested in February, is currently seeking bail in the Supreme Court.
The AAP has attributed Sanjay Singh’s arrest to the BJP’s “frustration” with the Opposition parties uniting under the INDIA bloc ahead of the 2024 general election.
The BJP has accused the AAP of engaging in “open corruption” and resorting to political tactics in response to allegations of wrongdoing.
This development underscores the ongoing legal battles and political tensions in the Indian political landscape, with both major parties making accusations and counter-accusations.
Sources By Agencies