Delhi: In the money laundering case pertaining to Delhi’s purported spirits scandal, a Delhi court has granted Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh an extension of judicial custody until February 17. Sanjay Singh, who is detained, is permitted by the court to take the oath of office on February 5 as a Rajya Sabha MP. It is the jail officials’ responsibility to transport him to Parliament by 10 a.m. This revelation coincides with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to once more decline to answer questions from the ED.
Had requested for interim bail
The court of Special Judge MK Nagpal on Saturday allowed Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh to go to Parliament and take oath as a Rajya Sabha member. The court directed the jail authorities to take Sanjay Singh to Parliament at 10 am on February 5 to administer the oath. Sanjay Singh had approached the court on Thursday seeking interim bail for a period of seven days to enable him to take oath on February 5 and attend the ongoing Parliament session from February 5 to February 9.
ED did not protest
However, advocate Rajat Bhardwaj, appearing for Sanjay Singh, in his amended plea said that the prayer for interim bail was not being pressed as Singh has to go to Sultanpur for hearing in another case filed against him on February 7, instead He may be allowed to visit Parliament only to take oath as a Rajya Sabha member on February 5. Sanjay Singh’s amended prayer was not opposed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Sanjay Singh’s interim bail plea rejected, but allowed to take oath. Thus, the court rejected Sanjay Singh’s interim bail plea and allowed him to take oath on February 5. The court also directed that adequate security arrangements will be made to Sanjay Singh during this period. During this period, Sanjay Singh Ho will not be allowed to use mobile phone or talk to any accused, suspect, witness or media persons. The court also allowed his family members and advocates to be present with him.
Sisodia was in jail since February 26, 2023. On November 11, 2023, the court had allowed Sisodia to meet his wife for a few hours. CBI arrested Sisodia on 26 February 2023. Since then he has been in jail, during which five of his bail applications have been rejected.
Application rejected on these dates
- The petition was canceled in the trial court for the first time on March 31, 2023.
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The first bail petition was filed in the High Court on 03 May - On May 30, the High Court rejected the petition. On July 03, the High Court again canceled the bail petition.
- On October 30, the Supreme Court had rejected the bail application.
On December 14, the Supreme Court had also rejected the review petition.
Kejriwal did not appear this time too. AAP says that CM Arvind Kejriwal had asked many questions to the Central Investigation Agency regarding the notices issued earlier also, but the answers to those questions have not been received till date. ED had issued a notice to Kejriwal for the fifth time and called him for questioning in the money laundering case related to the alleged liquor scam. However, Kejriwal participated in a protest organized by the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday. At the same time, AAP made it clear that the ED notice is illegal and hence he will not appear.