AAP MP Sanjay Singh Granted Bail by Supreme Court in Liquor Scandal Case
New Delhi, 2nd April 2024: AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who had been detained in Delhi’s Tihar Jail since October last year in connection with an alleged liquor excise policy scandal, has been granted bail by the Supreme Court. The apex court posed probing questions to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the arresting agency, regarding the prolonged incarceration of Singh without a trial or the recovery of alleged bribe money.
The ED, in response to the court’s queries about the necessity for further custody of Singh, eventually opted not to contest his bail plea. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, acknowledged that he would concede in the bail matter without delving into its merits.
Highlighting the absence of recovery of the alleged ₹100 crore bribe amount, the court underscored that no trace of it had been found. Consequently, the ED’s decision not to contest the bail plea came after the court indicated that if Singh were released, it would be under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Under Section 45, an accused can be released if there is a prima facie belief that they did not commit the offence and are unlikely to breach any laws while on bail. The court also noted that Dinesh Arora, an accused who later turned approver, did not initially implicate Singh in his statements.
Singh, arrested on money laundering charges linked to the alleged scam, had seen earlier bail pleas dismissed by lower courts, including the Delhi High Court. However, today’s ruling by a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Dipankar Datta, and Prasanna B Varale granted him bail, permitting him to engage in political activities while cautioning against commenting on the ED’s investigation.
His release has been welcomed by his colleague and Delhi PWD Minister Atishi, who expressed optimism with the phrase “satyameva jayate” (truth alone triumphs). Atishi has been leading AAP’s defence since Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest in connection with the same scandal, which allegedly involved bribes used to fund political campaigns.
