Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has moved the Supreme Court seeking bail in the money laundering case registered by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to the Delhi excise policy scam.Singh has challenged a February 9 order of the Delhi High Court rejecting his bail plea.The High Couurt while rejecting Singh's bail plea had directed the trial court to expedite the trial."No ground for grant of bail is made out. We direct the trial court to expedite the trial. No unnecessary adjournment be sought by either side," the High Court had said.Singh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 4, 2023 after the agency conducted a search at his residence. He has been in judicial custody since October 13, 2023.The trial court rejected his bail plea on December 22, 2023.The case against Singh involves allegations that he played a key role in framing and implementing the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy which was allegedly aimed at benefiting certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.Earlier, Singh had filed a plea challenging his arrest on the ground that it was an abuse of the legal process and in violation of the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Pankaj Bansal v. Union of India known as M3M Reality case.
The High Court rejected that plea on October 20, 2023 and held that the ED is a premier investigating agency and imputing political motives to it may have an impact on the image of the country.
Singh then moved the Supreme Court on this aspect which is also pending before the top court.
When that case came up for hearing before the Court on November 20, 2023, the apex court granted him the liberty to approach the trial court for bail.
The trial court and the High Court then rejected his bail plea leading to the present appeal before the apex court.
TAGS: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh Supreme Court Bail Money Laundering Case Enforcement Directorate (ED) Delhi Excise Policy Scam Delhi High Court Judicial Custody
