Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last October in an alleged money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy scam, was on Tuesday granted bail by the Supreme Court.
The court, however, said the "bail can't be treated as precedent" as it heard the Rajya Sabha MP's pleas seeking bail in the money laundering case, and also his arrest and subsequent ED remand.
The probe agency noted that it did not object to granting bail to the AAP leader during the pendency of proceedings arising out of an investigation report under sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
His bail terms will be set by a trial court.
During the hearing today, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and PB Varalesaid that Sanjay Singh can also "continue with his political activities" during the bail period.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing on behalf of the ED, told the court that he has an "arguable case, but we can give a concession".
"Without going into merits, I will make a concession in the bail matter...," he added.
The bail order came hours after the court sought a reply from the probe agency after hearing arguments by senior lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared on behalf of Sanjay Singh. It noted that there were exculpatory statements by accused-turned-approver Dinesh Arora and no money had been recovered.
The bench observed that "nothing has been recovered, there is no trace" against Sanjay Singh in the money laundering case.
Sanjay Singh's bail order came a day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was also arrested by the ED on Monday in connection to the same money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped liquor policy, was sent to 14-day custody until April 15 and is currently being held in Tihar Jail.
Kejriwal has been allotted Jail No. 2 in Tihar, where Sanjay Singh was earlier lodged following his arrest on October 4, 2023 after Dinesh Arora, the ED's star witness, named the Delhi MP in his statement.
The other two AAP leaders currently in Tihar are former Delhi Ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain.
In February, the Delhi High Court had refused to grant bail to Sanjay Singh, observing that there were no grounds for bail at that stage.
About a week later, the AAP leader moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order.
At the time of Sanjay Singh's arrest, the Enforcement Directorate claimed that he was a key conspirator in the Delhi liquor policy scam and received Rs 2 crore proceeds of crime. The probe agency also said that he was closely associated with a number of accused or suspects in this case, including Dinesh Arora.
(Courtesy:- India Today, 2 April 2024)
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