Delhi Excise Policy: SC to Hear Sanjay Singh’s Bail Plea on Mar 19

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stated that it would hear on March 19 a plea submitted by AAP leader Sanjay Singh.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader has challenged a Delhi High Court order that denied him bail in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Dipankar Datta, and Prashant Kumar Mishra was informed by the counsel representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that they would submit their reply to Singh’s plea during the day.

The ED’s counsel mentioned that the apex court had issued notice to the probe agency on February 26, seeking its response to the plea. He added that the reply was prepared and would be filed accordingly.

“You are filing it today?” the bench asked.

The counsel confirmed that the ED would file the reply during the day.

“Then we will keep it for next Tuesday,” the bench stated, scheduling the matter for hearing on March 19, 2024.

A separate plea filed by Singh challenging his arrest and remand in the money-laundering case was also heard before the bench. Both pleas will now be heard on March 19.

The high court had on February 7 denied Singh’s bail application. Singh, who has been re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Delhi, was directed by the high court to expedite the trial once it commences. Singh was arrested by the ED in the case on October 4 last year.

Before the high court, Singh had sought bail, citing over three months in custody and no attributed role in the predicate offence.

The probe agency opposed the bail plea in the high court, asserting Singh’s involvement in acquiring, possessing, concealing, dissipating, and using proceeds of crime from the Delhi liquor scam related to the policy period of 2021-22.

The agency further alleged that the AAP leader gained illegal money or kickbacks, which are proceeds of crime generated from the liquor policy (2021-22) scam, and that he also conspired with others.

The ED’s money laundering case originated from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR. According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities occurred during the modification of the now-defunct Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, and undue favors were extended to license holders.