AAP MP Sanjay Singh's arrest leads to Delhi Court granting 5-day ED custody

 AAP MP Sanjay Singh's arrest: In a significant development, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has been granted five days of custody to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by a Delhi court. This decision came following his arrest on Wednesday evening in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor policy controversy. The arrest has sparked a political firestorm, with Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of orchestrating the arrest. In response, the AAP has announced plans to hold protests outside the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.

The case revolves around the contentious excise policy implemented in Delhi in November 2021 for the 2021-22 financial year. This policy marked the Delhi government's withdrawal from retail alcohol sales, opening the door for private companies to bid for licenses. The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that kickbacks were involved in the implementation of this excise policy, which was eventually scrapped after Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena, called for an investigation into alleged irregularities.

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court has decided to grant custody of AAP MP Sanjay Singh to the ED until October 10, 2023.

Congress leader K C Venugopal expressed strong condemnation of the arrest, asserting that the Union government is targeting opposition leaders and hijacking democratic values and principles. He emphasized the misuse of agencies, whether at the state or central level, should not be tolerated.

Sachin Pilot, another prominent Congress leader, accused the Central government of misusing its agencies. He pointed out that a significant proportion of raids and actions taken by agencies such as the CBI, ED, and Income Tax Department target those who oppose the BJP-led central government, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic norms.

Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi and AAP chief, dismissed the allegations against Sanjay Singh and labeled the cases as false. He expressed frustration at the ongoing investigations, highlighting that nothing substantial has emerged from them. Kejriwal also referenced a recent case involving Manish Sisodia, another AAP leader, suggesting that it was similarly baseless.

BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh weighed in on the controversy, citing ED's investigation, which alleged that Sanjay Singh had connections with Dinesh Arora and Amit Arora and had received sums ranging from ₹2 crore to ₹3 crore. Manish Sisodia, another AAP leader, is also entangled in the liquor policy irregularities matter, and his bail plea was under consideration by the court.

In response to Sanjay Singh's arrest, the Aam Aadmi Party staged protests across various parts of India. AAP workers gathered at the party's office in the national capital, demanding Singh's release. Prominent AAP leaders like Atishi and Reena Gupta led the protest, with slogans raised against the BJP and calls for Sanjay Singh's immediate release.

Special CP Law and Order Dependra Pathak commented on the protests, characterizing them as an Aam Aadmi Party demonstration. He assured that the police were present to maintain law and order and engage with the organizers to ensure a peaceful and orderly protest.

Also Read: Sanjay Singh's arrest: Police use water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse AAP protesters

- With inputs from agencies

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