The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the release of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh on bail amid the pendency of trial in a money laundering case related to the excise policy irregularities matter.

The apex court said that the terms and conditions for the bail will be fixed by the trial court, PTI reported. The court, however, said the “bail can’t be treated as precedent”. Meanwhile, the probe agency noted that it did not have an objection to granting bail to the Rajya Sabha MP from Delhi.

Sanjay Singh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 4, 2023, following 10 hours of searches at his North Avenue home in connection with the allegations of Delhi liquor scam.

Also Read: Delhi excise policy: Kejriwal to appear in court today as Enforcement Directorate custody ends

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had alleged that Singh had played a key role in the formulation and implementation of the policy, which benefited certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers for monetary considerations. After his arrest, the trial court sent Singh to ED custody. He had been in judicial custody since October 13 last year. He was the third AAP leader to be arrested in the case, following former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and the party’s communications in-charge Vijay Nair.

A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice P B Varale said that Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the ED, was asked to take instructions whether further custody of Singh was required. The court had noted that Singh has spent six months in jail.

“He (ASG Raju) states they have no objections if Sanjay Singh is released on bail in proceedings arising out of FIR so and so PMLA case. In view of statement made, we allow the present appeal (bail matter) and direct that Sanjay Singh be released on bail during pendency of trial on terms and conditions set by the trial court,” the court was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.

Also Read: Delhi excise policy case: Judicial custody of Sanjay Singh, Manish Sisodia extended till Feb 3

Earlier, the ED alleged that an accused in the case, businessman Dinesh Arora, who later turned approver, had given Singh Rs 2 crore in cash. It also alleged that Singh had ensured changes were made in the liquor policy through Sisodia to favour certain businessmen.

Singh was recently allowed to take oath as a Rajya Sabha MP on March 19, when he was still lodged in jail.