Supreme Court Grants Bail To AAP MP Sanjay Singh Amid Money Laundering Trial

In the Delhi excise policy case, the Supreme Court granted bail to AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Tuesday. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) chose not to oppose the bail plea, leading to the court's decision.

As per the latest update, Sanjay Singh has become the first senior AAP leader to secure regular bail in the money laundering case associated with the now-defunct liquor policy, reported ANI.

Photo Credit: X/ANI

It was directed by the apex court that Sanjay Singh be released on bail with terms and conditions to be determined by the trial court. It was further clarified that the concession granted on this occasion would not be considered as a precedent, and he would be permitted to proceed with his political activities.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh Granted Bail

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Enforcement Directorate whether it needs further custody of Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh, arrested in the Delhi excise policy scam case.

A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice P B Varale told Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the ED, to take instructions and apprise it in post-lunch session of the court on whether further custody of Singh was required and remarked that he has spent six months in jail. The top court was hearing Singh's plea challenging his arrest and remand in the money laundering case, as reported by The Mint.

Raju was informed by the bench that no money had been recovered from Singh's possession, and the allegation of him receiving a ₹2 crore bribe could be examined in the trial. It was stated by the additional solicitor general that he would respond to Singh's submissions against his arrest and remand in the post-lunch session.

Singh had been arrested in the case by the ED on October 4 last year. In the plea before the high court, bail was sought by Singh on the grounds that he had been in custody for over three months and no role had been attributed to him in the predicate offence.

In the high court, the bail plea was opposed by the probe agency, which asserted that Singh was involved in acquiring, possessing, concealing, dissipating, and utilizing proceeds of the crime generated from the Delhi liquor scam related to the policy period of 2021-22, as per media reports.

It was further claimed by the agency that illegal money or kickbacks, which are proceeds of the crime generated from the liquor policy scam, have been gained by the AAP leader, and that he has also played a role in conspiracy with others.

The ED's money laundering case originates from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR. According to both the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, and undue favours were extended to license holders.