Supreme Court notice to ED on Sanjay Singh’s petition in liquor irregularities case | Delhi News

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding AAP leader Sanjay Singh‘s petition challenging the Delhi High Court‘s rejection of his plea against his remand and arrest in an alleged liquor irregularities case.

A bench comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti has requested a response from the ED on Sanjay Singh’s plea and scheduled the matter for the second week of December.
The court has also allowed the petitioner to apply for regular bail, emphasizing that it will be considered on its own merits in accordance with the law, independent of the challenged judgment.

In the previous month, the Delhi High Court had dismissed the plea of Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who contested his remand and arrest in the alleged liquor irregularities case.
Sanjay Singh was arrested by the ED after a day-long interrogation at his Delhi residence. The ED alleges that Singh and his associates played a role in the Delhi government’s decision to grant licenses to alcohol shops and merchants in 2020, causing financial losses to the state and violating anti-corruption laws.

The ED had conducted searches at various locations, including the homes and offices of Sanjay Singh’s close associate Ajit Tyagi and other individuals benefiting from the policy. In its extensive supplementary charge sheet, the ED labeled Sisodia as a “key conspirator” in the case.
The Delhi liquor scam case, also known as the excise policy case, revolves around accusations that the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, led by Arvind Kejriwal, allowed cartelization and favored certain dealers who allegedly paid bribes. The AAP strongly refutes these charges.
Last year, the ED filed its first chargesheet in the case, conducting over 200 search operations following an FIR based on the recommendation of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, prompted by findings in the Delhi Chief Secretary’s report, indicating prima facie violations of various laws.
Raghav Chadha moves HC
AAP MP Raghav Chadha has moved the Delhi High Court to challenge a trial court’s dismissal of his appeal against summons and request for discharge in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Chail Bihari Goswami. The trial court had summoned Chadha in the defamation case, and the session court had upheld the summoning orders.
On Monday, the high court instructed Raghav Chadha to submit additional documents. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed Chadha’s counsel to file supplementary documents in the petition. The case is scheduled for December 11, 2023.
Chadha approached the high court against the trial court’s November 11, 2023 order issued by the special judge at Rouse Avenue Court. The Rouse Avenue court had rejected two appeals by Raghav Chadha and Satyendra Jain against the summoning order.
Special judge M K Nagpal dismissed the appeal, upholding the orders of February 16, 2022, and November 9, 2022, stating they were correct and legal. The trial court had issued a summons based on a defamation complaint filed by BJP leader Chail Bihari Goswami, who claimed to have been publicly defamed by the respondents through press conferences, social media platforms, and newspapers.
The statements alleged misappropriation of funds, around Rs 2400-2500 crore, belonging to North MCD controlled by the BJP. Goswami contended that these statements, falling under Section 499 IPC, amounted to imputations and were made with the intention to defame him, leading to charges under Section 500 IPC.
(With agency inputs)