Sanjay Singh, a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who was arrested in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, will remain in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate until Friday. Last week, a Delhi Court had extended the custody of the Rajya Sabha MP for five days, as he is alleged to be a “key conspirator” in the case.
According to the Enforcement Directorate, it was revealed in court that a businessman had given ₹2 crore to Mr. Singh, and this amount was part of the money trail in the case. The agency also claimed that the AAP leader had close connections with several other individuals accused in the case, including businessman Dinesh Arora, who recently became a cooperating witness.
Mr. Singh, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, was arrested on Wednesday following extensive searches at his residence. He is the second high-ranking AAP leader to be arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in the liquor policy, following the arrest of Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, in February. Mr. Sisodia remains in custody and is seeking bail from the Supreme Court, which has raised tough questions for the Enforcement Directorate.
Mr. Sisodia, who served as the Delhi government’s excise commissioner during the development of the 2021 liquor policy (which was later scrapped), is considered the primary accused in the case, referred to as the “kingpin” and “mastermind” by investigating agencies.
AAP has suggested that Mr. Singh’s arrest is a consequence of the BJP’s “frustration” with opposition parties coming together under the INDIA bloc in anticipation of the upcoming general election next year.
Central investigating agencies allege that liquor companies played a role in shaping the 2021 excise policy, which would have generated a 12 percent profit for these companies. They claim that a liquor lobby known as the “South Group” paid kickbacks, with six percent of the proposed 12 percent profit being funneled to public servants through intermediaries, according to the CBI.
