A day after being arrested by the the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh on Thursday, 5 October, was sent to ED remand by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court for five days in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.
"False and baseless allegations, we are not scared, we will fight back," said the AAP MP, reported PTI.
This is the second high-profile arrest in this case. Earlier in February, Delhi's former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was arrested in connection with the same case.
A team of ED officials reached Singh’s residence in New Delhi at around 7:00 AM on Wednesday and started conducting searches.
ED officials said that premises belonging to some others connected to the case were also covered during the operation, news agency PTI reported. Earlier, the ED had questioned the members of staff of those linked to the 51-year-old Rajya Sabha MP.
ED alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licenses to liquor traders allowed "cartelisation" and favored certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it — a charge that has been strongly refuted by the AAP.
In May this year, an ED chargesheet filed against Sisodia stated that a restaurateur named Dinesh Arora was extremely close to both, Singh and Sisodia.
Meanwhile, earlier on Wednesday, AAP workers were detained in Lucknow as they staged a protest against ED's raid at Singh's residence.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had earlier said on 4 October, "Nothing will be found at his residence. 2024 elections are coming and they know that they will lose. These are desperate attempts by them. As elections near, all agencies like ED, CBI and will get active."
'ED Didn't Give Us Any Reason': Singh's Wife
The AAP leader's wife Anita Singh, while speaking to news agency ANI said, "They questioned and searched the house, computer, and documents but did not find anything. There was pressure upon them (ED officials) to arrest him and they arrested him. They (ED) did not give us any reason."
Singh's father, Dinesh Singh, said, "We've said we will cooperate. I had told him (Sanjay Singh) not to worry."
His father continued, "I think they didn't find any base to arrest him but since they (ED officials) were told to arrest, they arrested him. It will bring positive results as the government will be changed."
'Totally Illegal': Kejriwal Slams Singh's Arrest
Meanwhile, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal met Singh's family in the evening on Wednesday. Taking to platform X (Formerly Twitter) he called Singh's arrest "totally illegal."
He added, "This shows Modi is freaking out. They will arrest many more opposition leaders till the elections."
Speaking to ANI, Kejriwal said that AAP is a "staunch honest party."
If we will become dishonest like them then all of our problems will be resolved...More than 1,000 raids have been conducted in this liquor case and several people have been arrested but they are not able to recover even a single penny... PM Modi is deep in corruption from tip to toe..I think after independence, PM Modi is the most corrupt PM of our country.Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi's Chief Minister
Congress leader Meem Afzal said that this arrest is "in accordance with the tendency of this Govt. Those who speak up and question will go behind bars."
He added, "I don't find Sanjay Singh's arrest surprising. The way he speaks inside and outside the Parliament, gives interviews and openly challenges the PM and other leaders — it was certain that he had to go to jail. BJP is following this ritual these days."
'Arrest of Freedom of Thought': RJD's Manoj Kumar Jha
RJD MP also met Singh's father and while speaking to media he remarked, "It's not the arrest of Sanjay Singh but of freedom of thought."
Talking about the arrest, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "AAP is now saying that it is a political vendetta and that they knew it beforehand. You had to know beforehand...When you were distributing money and collecting crores of rupees, you had to go to jail. You will have to give an account for it."
He added, "They are now trying to gain the sympathy of people - that you are innocent. You have always lied...Arvind Kejriwal, you too will have to give an account for it," reported ANI.
"Today, Delhi's faith would have been restored that those who are involved in wrongdoings won't be spared," said BJP leader Manoj Tiwari.
Taking a jibe at Kejriwal, BJP's Kapil Mishra stated, "Vijay Nair and Manish Sisodia are already jailed and now Sanjay Singh is also going (to jail). A question that arises is that when all these leaders were stealing, was Arvind Kejriwal not part of it?”
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