The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its order on a plea moved by AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh challenging his remand and arrest in the liquor ‘scam’ case.
The bench headed by Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma reserved the order after hearing both sides in the matter.
Appearing for ED, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju submitted that Singh has been arrested in the interest of investigation after following the due process of law.
ED’s counsel submitted that, “During the investigation, it’s been revealed that Sanjay Singh is also a part of the conspiracy of the Delhi Liquor Scam and is closely related to Dinesh Arora and Amit Arora. He has been part of collecting kickbacks and has received proceeds of crime to the tune of 2 crore.”
He stated, “The trial court, which passed the order, has perused the case paper and found that reasons have been recorded in writing, and thus it is in compliance of section 19. The facts stated nowhere show that his arrest is unwarranted or unreasonable. Even his contentions regarding remand application mechanically without consideration are all wrong and misleading. General submissions are made off the cuff. The remand is not mechanical, and there is total application of mind.”
Earlier, appearing for Sanjay Singh, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari argued that the action of arresting a reputed person of the country took place without following procedures. The lawyer stated that, for more than a year, until now, I was never called by the Enforcement Directorate.
Singh’s lawyer argued, “Suddenly on October 4, they come to my house, carry out a search, take my mobile phone and some papers, and later in the evening, arrest me. Dinesh Arora gives different answers to the same question; he eventually starts speaking what the agency wants him to say.”
Last week, the trial court sent Sanjay Singh to judicial custody till October 27, 2023.
ED arrested Sanjay Singh after a day-long questioning by the ED officials at his Delhi residence.
Sanjay Singh’s party colleague and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia of Delhi was also arrested in the same liquor policy scam case in March this year. ED claimed that Singh and his associates played a part in the Delhi government’s decision to give licenses to alcohol shops and merchants in 2020, causing losses to the state exchequer and violating anti-corruption laws. Previously, ED searched a number of locations, including the homes and offices of Sanjay Singh’s close associate Ajit Tyagi and other contractors and businessmen who allegedly benefited from the policy. In its nearly 270-page supplementary charge sheet, the ED has called Sisodia a key conspirator in the case.
