A Delhi court on Saturday further extended the judicial custody of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia until February 3 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged excise scam. The two leaders appeared via video conferencing from Tihar Jail during the court proceedings.
The court also deferred its decision on the bail plea of Sarvesh Mishra, a close associate of Singh and an accused in the case. Singh and Sisodia were presented before the court through video conference as their physical appearance was deemed impractical due to security concerns and a shortage of police personnel amidst preparations for Republic Day.
Special Judge M K Nagpal set January 24 as the date for announcing the decision on Mishra’s bail application, which he submitted after complying with the court summons. The judge had summoned Mishra following the acknowledgment of a charge sheet filed against him and Singh.
In his plea, Mishra argued that since he was not arrested during the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation, detaining him after the charge sheet had already been filed would serve no purpose. The ED did not oppose his bail application during the court proceedings.
The court also reserved its decision on the bail plea of co-accused Amit Arora until January 24, 2024.
On December 19, the court had taken cognizance of the supplementary prosecution complaint (equivalent to a charge sheet) filed against AAP MP Sanjay Singh and his associate, Mishra. Singh had been arrested by the ED on October 4, with the agency asserting that he was part of a conspiracy to obtain kickbacks from liquor groups under the Delhi excise policy 2021-22.
Following the scrapping of the Delhi excise policy in August 2022, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate alleged irregularities and corruption involving government authorities, bureaucrats, liquor traders, and others.
(With PTI inputs)
