Sanjay Singh, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP, is facing legal challenges following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam. During a Supreme Court hearing on Singh's petition contesting his arrest and subsequent remand by the ED, the bench questioned why Singh hadn't yet filed a regular bail plea.
The bench, composed of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and S.N.V. Bhatti, issued notices to the Centre and the ED, seeking their response to Singh's plea challenging his arrest and remand in the money-laundering case. They instructed Singh's counsel, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, to file a regular bail application, stating, "Why are you shying away from that? We will say notice but you file (regular bail plea)."
The court granted Singh the liberty to submit a regular bail application before the appropriate court having jurisdiction over the matter. The Centre and the ED are required to provide their responses in this case by December 11.
Singh had moved the Supreme Court on November 3, contesting the Delhi High Court's decision that upheld his arrest and ED remand in the liquor policy scam. The High Court had earlier dismissed Singh's plea, affirming the ED's arrest and remand in the money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the now-defunct excise policy.
Previously, on October 13, the Rouse Avenue Court had sent Singh to 14-day judicial custody in response to the ED's request. Singh challenged his arrest, arguing that the ED hadn't provided sufficient grounds for his arrest. The ED sought Singh's extended custody, citing non-cooperation in disclosing the source of acquisition of certain confidential documents, refusal to acknowledge call records, and pending digital data analysis.
Singh was arrested by the ED on October 4 after searches at his residence in the North Avenue area in connection with the alleged scam.
(With Agency Inputs)
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