Delhi Excise Policy: Rouse Avenue Court Takes Cognizance of Chargesheet against AAP MP Sanjay Singh

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday took cognizance of the supplementary prosecution complaint (chargesheet) filed against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh and his associate Sarvesh Mishra.

Special Judge MK, after taking cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet against Sanjay Singh, issued his production warrant for December 21.

Sanjay Singh is presently in judicial custody until December 21, 2023.

The court issued summons against Sarvesh Mishra for January 10, and the hearing for the matter is already scheduled for that date.

On December 11, the court had reserved the order following the arguments presented by the investigation agency.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a supplementary prosecution complaint (Chargesheet) on December 2 against Sanjay Singh and Sarvesh Mishra in a money laundering case related to the Excise policy case.

Sanjay Singh, a senior AAP leader, was arrested by the ED on October 4.

According to the ED, this is the fifth supplementary chargesheet in the case, comprising 60 pages of operative content and around 2500 pages of annexures.

Sarvesh Mishra had previously been questioned multiple times by the ED in the case.

The ED had informed the court earlier that Sanjay Singh was part of a conspiracy to collect kickbacks from liquor groups in the Delhi Excise policy for 2021-22.

Sanjay Singh allegedly had close relations with Dinesh Arora, now an approver, who introduced accused Amit Arora to him.

Dinesh Arora was in regular contact with Sanjay Singh, as evidenced by Call Detail Records analysis. The ED alleged that Singh received proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 2 crores.

The Rouse Avenue Court is also reviewing the bail petition of Sanjay Singh, scheduled for a hearing on December 12.

Recently, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the ED on Sanjay Singh’s plea against the Delhi High Court order rejecting his challenge to remand and arrest in the alleged liquor irregularities case.

The Supreme Court kept open the option for the petitioner to file for regular bail, emphasizing that it would be considered on its own merits in accordance with the law without being influenced by the impugned judgment.

The ED previously claimed that Sanjay 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 had conducted searches at various locations, including the homes and offices of Sanjay Singh’s close associate Ajit Tyagi and other contractors and businessmen allegedly benefiting from the policy.

In its nearly 270-page supplementary charge sheet, the ED identified Sisodia as a key conspirator in the case.

The Delhi liquor scam case, also known as 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.

This charge has been vehemently denied by the AAP. Last year, the ED filed its first chargesheet in the case, stating that it has conducted over 200 search operations after filing an FIR based on a CBI case registered on the recommendation of the Delhi lieutenant governor.

The CBI inquiry was recommended following findings in the Delhi chief secretary’s report filed in July, indicating prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009, and Delhi Excise Rules-2010.