AAP leader Sanjay Singh has been granted bail by the Supreme Court in the Delhi excise policy case, as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) chose not to contest the bail plea. This makes Singh the first senior AAP leader to receive regular bail in the money laundering case linked to the defunct liquor policy. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Manish Sisodia, and former Health Minister Satyendar Jain remain in judicial custody in the same case.
The three-judge bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Dipankar Datta, and PB Varale emphasized that the concession made by the probe agency should not set a precedent. Additionally, they instructed Sanjay Singh, who had been in jail for six months, to refrain from commenting on the case while out on bail.
In response to the court’s decision, a senior AAP leader posted ‘Satyamev Jayate’ on social media. During the hearing, the bench informed the Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the ED, that no money had been found in Singh’s possession, and the allegation of him accepting a ₹2 crore bribe could be examined during the trial.
The ED had previously opposed Singh’s bail plea in the high court, alleging his involvement in various activities related to the Delhi liquor scam during the 2021-22 policy period, including acquiring, possessing, concealing, dissipating, and utilizing proceeds of the crime.
The ED’s money laundering case results from the FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). According to both agencies, irregularities occurred during the now-defunct Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 modification, with undue favors granted to license holders.
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