“Supreme Court Grants Bail to AAP Leader Sanjay Singh in Money Laundering Case”

In Short

• AAP leader Sanjay Singh granted bail by Supreme Court
• Arrested last October by Enforcement Directorate
• Case linked to Delhi liquor policy scam

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last October in connection with an alleged money laundering case related to the now-defunct Delhi liquor policy scam, was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

However, the court clarified that the bail granted to Singh cannot be considered as a precedent. The decision came during the hearing of Singh’s pleas seeking bail in the money laundering case and challenging his arrest and subsequent remand by the ED.

The ED informed the court that it did not oppose Singh’s bail during the ongoing proceedings under sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The terms of his bail will be determined by a trial court.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and PB Varale, allowed Singh to continue his political activities during the bail period.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, stated that although the agency had an arguable case, it was willing to concede bail without delving into the merits.

The bail order was issued after the court sought a response from the ED following arguments by senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented Singh.

The court took note of exculpatory statements by accused-turned-approver Dinesh Arora and the absence of any recovery of funds in the case.

Singh’s bail comes on the heels of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the ED in the same money laundering case.

Kejriwal was remanded to 14-day custody until April 15 and is currently incarcerated in Tihar Jail. Singh was previously lodged in the same jail following his arrest in October 2023, based on statements made by Dinesh Arora implicating him.

Singh’s bail plea was earlier rejected by the Delhi High Court in February, prompting him to approach the Supreme Court.

At the time of his arrest, the ED alleged that Singh played a pivotal role in the Delhi liquor policy scam and received Rs 2 crore in proceeds of crime.

The agency also claimed that Singh had close associations with several other suspects in the case, including Dinesh Arora.