Not Just Arrest, Something Big To Kejriwal: AAP MP Sanjay Singh After Court Extended Judicial Custody Till 24 Nov

A Delhi court has extended the judicial custody of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh until 24 November in the excise policy case, as reported by ANI.

Singh was taken into custody on 4 October by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The agency had been interrogating him in relation to their investigation into the money laundering aspect of the Delhi excise policy case, which has since been abolished.

Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, along with Singh, has been in jail since February in relation to the case. Initially arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the AAP leader was subsequently taken into custody by the ED.

The AAP has stated that if MLAs are imprisoned, they will hold their cabinet meetings at Tihar jail. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also summoned by the ED in this case on 2 November but did not attend.

Notably, after the court hearing, Singh said, "There is a big conspiracy to trap Kejriwal ji. Not just arrest, these people are going to do something big to Kejriwal."

Sanjay Singh has been accused by the ED of being heavily involved in the creation and execution of the now-abolished policy which was found to have provided advantages to specific liquor manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers.

According to the chargesheet filed by the ED, Dinesh Arora, a restaurateur, was said to have close ties with both Singh and Sisodia. Arora was taken into custody by the CBI in July of this year.

The ED claims that Arora met Sanjay Singh at a party in his restaurant, and it was through Singh that he got in touch with Sisodia.

Arora has been accused by the ED of receiving a call from Singh in 2020, where Singh requested funding from other restaurant owners for the Delhi assembly elections.

Arora allegedly contacted multiple restaurant owners and coordinated the collection of cheques worth Rs 82 lakh for the party funds for the Delhi elections held that year.

The Delhi government's excise policy, which was introduced in 2021, was abruptly terminated following a recommendation by lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena to investigate alleged irregularities in its implementation. Consequently, the policy was discarded and replaced by the 2020-21 regime.