Delhi liquorgate: AAP MP Sanjay Singh's ED custody extended
A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh till Friday, Hindustan Times reported. The ED arrested him on Wednesday (October 4) after searches at his residence in the national capital. Singh is the second leader from the AAP to be arrested in the money laundering case related to the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy.
ED again sought Singh's custody
Per Live Law, Singh was produced before Rouse Avenue Courts' Special Judge MK Nagpal on Tuesday after his five-day ED custody expired. It sought five more days of his custody but was granted three. Notably, Nagpal earlier denied bail to former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in cases by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over the alleged liquor policy scam.
Raids conducted at Singh's residence
Last week, the ED conducted raids at Singh's residence after he was named by businessman Dinesh Arora, an accused in the liquor policy case, who later turned approver in both the ED and CBI cases. The ED also alleged Arora's employee delivered Rs. 2 crore to Singh's residence on two occasions. The agency said it will also confront AAP leader Singh with digital evidence.
Special public prosecutor mentions transaction of money
During the hearing on Thursday, Special Public Prosecutor NK Matta, appearing for the ED, reportedly said a transaction worth Rs. 3 crore was carried out in relation to the scam, and of that, Rs. 2 crore was paid in cash. He added that 239 places were also raided, and certain documents were found. The ED informed the court that Singh's phone was confiscated, too.
What ED chargesheet against Singh says
The ED chargesheet claimed Singh was crucial in formulating the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. It alleged the policy was introduced to give a 12% wholesale business profit to some private companies. However, this wasn't mentioned in the minutes of meetings of the Group of Ministers (GoM). The ED claimed the conspiracy was coordinated by Sisodia's aide Vijay Nair and a South Indian group.
Nair took Rs. 100cr on AAP leaders' behalf: Report
Notably, Nair was the AAP's communication officer and co-accused in the case. Investigative agencies claim he received Rs. 100 crore in kickbacks from a purported South Indian group on behalf of AAP leaders. Nair and Arora were reportedly Sisodia's aides.
About the alleged scam
The ED launched its investigation into the alleged scam in response to an FIR filed by CBI. The Delhi AAP administration issued the said excise policy, which privatized the sale of alcohol, in November 2021 and scrapped it in July 2022. The ED and the CBI are currently looking into suspected irregularities in its creation and implementation.
