Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court has directed the Tihar Jail Superintendent to ensure that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh is securely escorted under adequate security to Parliament on March 19, to take oath as a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).
Sanjay Singh, presently in judicial custody, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on October 5, 2023, in connection with a money laundering case related to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.
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In an order issued on March 16, 2024, Special Judge MK Nagpal directed that during the visit, Sanjay Singh should not be allowed to use a mobile phone or communicate with any other accused, suspect, or witness of the case, including those connected to the CBI case. Additionally, he is prohibited from addressing the press or holding public meetings. However, he may meet with his legal counsel and family members during the visit.
Earlier in February, permission was granted for the same purpose, but the oath could not be administered due to certain reasons.
The Enforcement Directorate has alleged Singh’s involvement in acquiring, possessing, concealing, dissipating, and utilising proceeds of crime generated from the Delhi Liquor Scam during the policy period of 2021-22.
In the same matter, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha was also arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, with the concerned court remanding her to custody until March 23, 2024. She was arrested after a day-long interrogation and a raid at her residence in Hyderabad.
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The ED has filed its first chargesheet in the case, which involves nearly 200 search operations. “The CBI inquiry was recommended based on the findings of the Delhi Chief Secretary’s report filed in July showing prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009, and Delhi Excise Rules-2010,” officials stated.
“The ED and the CBI had alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the Excise Policy, undue favours were extended to licence holders, the licence fee was waived or reduced and the L-1 licence was extended without the competent authority’s approval. The beneficiaries diverted “illegal” gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection,” probe agencies stated.
Among the allegations is the refunding of the Earnest Money Deposit of approximately Rs 30 crore to a successful tenderer against set rules. Additionally, a waiver on tendered license fees was allowed from December 28, 2021, to January 27, 2022, due to COVID-19, resulting in an alleged loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the exchequer.