Delhi Excise Policy: ED Files Chargesheet against AAP Leader Sanjay Singh

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday filed a supplementary prosecution complaint (Chargesheet) against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh and his alleged associate Sarvesh Mishra in a money laundering case related to the Excise policy case.

The Court has scheduled consideration and arguments on cognizance points on the chargesheet for December 4, 2023.

On October 4, the ED arrested Sanjay Singh, who is currently in judicial custody at Tihar Jail.

It is to be noted that this marks the fifth supplementary chargesheet in the case, comprising 60 pages of operative details and around 2500 pages of annexures.

His alleged associate, Sarvesh Mishra had previously been questioned multiple times by the ED in the case.

Earlier, ED informed the court that Sanjay Singh was part of a conspiracy to collect kickbacks from liquor groups in the Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. Allegedly, Singh had close relations with approver Dinesh Arora, who introduced accused Amit Arora to Sanjay Singh. Dinesh Arora’s regular contact with Sanjay Singh was established through the analysis of Call Detail Records. Singh purportedly received proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 2 crores, as stated by the ED.

The Court also examined Sanjay Singh’s bail petition, which is scheduled for hearing on December 6.

Recently, the Supreme Court issued notice to the ED on Singh’s plea against the Delhi High Court order rejecting his challenge to his remand and arrest in the alleged liquor irregularities case. The Apex Court allowed the petitioner to file for regular bail, emphasizing that it would be considered on its own merits without being influenced by the impugned judgment.

ED previously claimed that Singh and his associates played a role in the Delhi government’s decision to grant licenses to alcohol shops and merchants in 2020, causing losses to the state exchequer and violating anti-corruption laws. The ED conducted searches at various locations, including the homes and offices of Sanjay Singh’s close associate Ajit Tyagi and other individuals who allegedly benefited from the policy.

In its nearly 270-page supplementary charge sheet, the ED designated Sisodia as a key conspirator in the case. The Delhi liquor scam case, or the excise policy case, revolves around allegations that the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 allowed cartelization and favored certain dealers who allegedly paid bribes. The AAP strongly refutes these charges.

Last year, the ED filed its first chargesheet in the case. The agency has conducted over 200 search operations in this case after filing an FIR based on a CBI case recommended by the Delhi lieutenant governor following the findings of the Delhi chief secretary’s report in July, showing prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009, and Delhi Excise Rules-2010.