Delhi liquorgate: ED arrests AAP MP Sanjay Singh
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh after conducting raids at his residence on Wednesday morning in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. The agency alleged that Singh played a key role in the formulation and implementation of the now-scraped policy. The ED raids began before 7:00am when Singh was home with his wife and parents.
Why does this story matter?
This comes on the day the Supreme Court is set to hear the bail plea of AAP stalwart Manish Sisodia, jailed in this case. Opposition quarters accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to intimidate the opposition as the elections are approaching. Earlier in May, Singh claimed that the ED told him that he was named in the chargesheet by "mistake."
Video shows search underway at Singh's residence
What does the chargesheet say?
The ED chargesheet says that Delhi-based businessman Dinesh Arora—Sisodia's aide and another arrested accused in the case—met Sisodia through Singh. On Singh's request, he arranged funds of around Rs. 32 lakh from restaurant owners for the AAP for elections in Delhi. The ED also alleged that Singh helped resolve one of Arora's long-pending issues related to the excise department.
Delhi court allows Arora, Raghav Magunta to turn government witnesses
On Tuesday, a Delhi court allowed Arora and Raghav Magunta, another accused and the son of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, to turn approvers in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi liquor scam. While the YSRCP is Andhra Pradesh's ruling party, leaders of Telangana's ruling party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), have also been named in the case.
Policy scrapped in July 2022
The Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 was implemented in November 2021, exclusively privatizing the sale of liquor. The Excise Department reportedly issued 849 retail liquor licenses to private entities through open bidding, allegedly favoring those players who paid bribes to the AAP. The ED has alleged that the AAP received Rs. 100 crore in kickbacks and used the money for campaigning in the Goa elections.
