Legal
Delhi High Court Rejects Sanjay Singh's Plea Against ED Custody In Liquor Policy Money Laundering Case
Arvind Kejriwal with Sanjay Singh
The Delhi High Court on Friday (20 October) dismissed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh's plea, which challenged his arrest and subsequent custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case related to the liquor policy scandal.
One of the key arguments made in the plea was that the case against Sanjay Singh was politically motivated. However, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, presiding over the case, noted that the ED is a premier investigative agency in the country. In the absence of substantial evidence on record to substantiate the claim of political motivation, the court refused to be drawn into the discussion on this matter.
Justice Sharma emphasised the impartiality of the judiciary, stating, "Courts should remain untouched by such influences and are solely guided by their oath," Live Law reported.
Furthermore, the court underlined that despite Sanjay Singh's status as a political figure, he must be treated equally as any other accused in a criminal case.
The court's decision also addressed the issue of an individual's right to protect their public image. While acknowledging this right, the court made it clear that upholding this right should not obstruct the state's authority to investigate and address allegations of criminal activity.
Furthermore, the court determined that the petition filed by Sanjay Singh is considered premature at this juncture since the investigation is still in its nascent stages. Consequently, the court has found no compelling reason to intervene in the remand order or the arrest, leading to the dismissal of the petition.
In addressing the validity of the statement provided by the approver, Dinesh Arora, the court has affirmed that the ED followed due legal processes in recording the statement.
Moreover, the court has stressed that there is no concrete evidence to suggest that the ED obtained the approver's statement unlawfully or through illegal means.
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