The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has evidence that AAP MP Sanjay Singh, who was arrested in the Delhi liquor policy scam, “received crores of rupees” from an accused-turned-approver in the case, top sources privy to the development said.
According to sources, the ED has established the money trail between accused-turned-approver Dinesh Arora and Sanjay Singh. It said that Singh was prominently involved in the formulation of the now scrapped liquor policy and received kickbacks. Dinesh Arora allegedly handed over “crores of rupees” to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader.
The sources said that the probe agency has additional statements beyond that of approver Dinesh Arora. After receiving fresh evidence against Singh, ED officials wrote to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding the matter.
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was on Wednesday arrested by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe linked to the 2021-22 Delhi Excise policy case, in a jolt to Delhi’s ruling party after its third top leader was held by a central agency in over a year.
The arrest of 51-year-old Singh, who became the second high profile leader of the AAP to be nabbed in the case relating to the now scrapped Excise policy after former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, sparked a political slugfest between the Arvind Kejriwal-led party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“The arrest of Sanjay Singh is completely illegal. This shows (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji’s nervousness. They will arrest many more opposition leaders until the elections,” AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
After a day-long questioning, Sanjay Singh was placed under arrest under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED officials swooped on his official residence in North Avenue early this morning and conducted searches. Singh is expected to be produced before a local court in Delhi on Thursday where the ED will seek his custody.
The searches and subsequent arrest of Singh comes a day after a Delhi court had allowed Raghav Magunta, son of YSR Congress Party Lok Sabha MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, and Delhi-based businessman Dinesh Arora to turn approver in the money laundering case connected to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam.
