The Supreme Court on Tuesday has granted bail to Sanjay Singh, a prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to the now-defunct excise policy in the national capital. This decision came after Singh had challenged his arrest and subsequent remand in the case.

Singh's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 4 of the preceding year sparked a legal battle that has now seen a significant development with the Supreme Court's decision to grant him bail. During the court proceedings, the ED stated that it had no objections to Singh being released on bail, a stance that likely contributed to the court's decision.

The Supreme Court bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Dipankar Datta, and Justice P B Varale, directed the Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the ED, to provide insights into whether further custody of Singh was warranted. Notably, the bench also acknowledged that Singh had already spent six months in custody awaiting this ruling.

A pivotal point in the court's decision-making process was the absence of any money recovered from Singh's possession. Additionally, the court underscored that the allegations against him, particularly the accusation of receiving a bribe of Rs 2 crore, should be thoroughly examined during the trial proceedings. This stance indicates the court's adherence to the principle of innocent until proven guilty, emphasizing the importance of due process in legal matters.

This isn't the first time Singh has sought bail. Previously, he had applied for bail in the Delhi High Court on the grounds that no role had been attributed to him in the primary offense. However, his plea was rejected by the High Court, prompting him to pursue further legal recourse.

The ED, in its opposition to Singh's bail plea, had asserted that he was implicated in various activities related to the alleged money laundering scheme, including acquiring, possessing, concealing, dissipating, and utilizing the proceeds of the crime derived from the Delhi liquor scam during the policy period of 2021-22. The agency further alleged that Singh had benefited from kickbacks, which constituted proceeds of the crime associated with the liquor policy 'scam.'

It's essential to note that the ED's money laundering case originated from an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). According to both the CBI and the ED, irregularities occurred during the modification of the now-defunct Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, with undue favors allegedly extended to license holders.

Case: Sanjay Singh vs. Union of India and Anr.