Delhi Excise Policy Scam: Supreme Court Sets Deadline For Centre And ED Response In Sanjay Singh's Plea Challenging Arrest

On Monday (20 November), the Supreme Court requested responses from the Centre and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding AAP leader Sanjay Singh's plea challenging his arrest and detention in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

A bench comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna and S V N Bhatti issued a notice to the Centre and the ED, instructing them to submit their responses by 11 December.

The bench specified that if Singh files a petition for regular bail in the meantime, it should be considered independently of the observations made in the Delhi High Court's judgement dated 20 October.

Singh, who was arrested on 4 October in connection with the case, approached the Supreme Court to challenge the High Court's decision.

The High Court, in its order, had declined to intervene in his arrest, stating that it could not attribute a political motive to a premier investigating agency without material evidence on record.

The court also noted that Singh's case did not present a "prima facie case of no evidence at all".

The ED's money laundering case originated from the FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Both agencies alleged irregularities in modifying the now-defunct Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, claiming that undue favours were granted to licence holders.

It is asserted that Singh played a pivotal role in formulating and implementing the policy, benefiting certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers in exchange for financial considerations.

Following his arrest, the trial court had placed Singh in ED custody. Subsequently, on 13 October, he was remanded to judicial custody until 27 October.