Delhi liquor policy case: Supreme Court grants bail to AAP MP Sanjay Singh after ED says it has no objection

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday (Apr 2) granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh in the Delhi liquor policy case.

A bench of the apex court, as per reports, directed that Singh be released on bail on terms and conditions set by the trial court.

"We direct that Sanjay Singh be released on bail on terms and conditions fixed by the trial court. We clarify that the concession given today will not be treated as a precedence. He will be allowed to continue with his political activities."

The ED had said that it doesnot object to granting bail to Singh during the pendency of proceedings under sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Sanjay Singh in jail since October 2023

The bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Dipankar Datta, and Justice P B Varale questioned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) about the need for further custody of Singh.

Hearing Singh's plea challenging his arrest and remand by the ED, the Supreme Court noted that Singh had already spent six months in jail.

The bench told Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing on behalf of the ED, that no money had been recovered from Singh's possession and suggested that the allegation of him receiving a ₹2 crore ($239,887) bribe could be examined during the trial.

Singh was arrested by the ED on October 4 last year.

Previously, in the high court, the AAP leader had applied for bail, citing that he had been in custody for over three months and that no role had been attributed to him in the predicate offence.

However, the probe agency ED at the time opposed Singh's bail plea, alleging his involvement in acquiring, possessing, concealing, dissipating, and using proceeds of crime related to the Delhi liquor scam during the 2021-22 policy period.

The ED also claimed that Singh had illicitly gained money or kickbacks from the liquor policy scam and had conspired with others.

(With inputs from agencies)