Delhi court extends AAP MP Sanjay Singh's ED custody for three days
Oct 10, 2023
New Delhi [India], October 10 : Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Monday extended the custody of Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh for a further three days in connection with a liquor policy case.
The AAP senior leader was produced in the court after five days of ED custody in the Delhi Excise policy money laundering case.
Special Judge MK Nagpal extended the custody of Singh till October 13 after hearing submissions from ED and the accused's counsel.
During the hearing, the AAP leader also told the court that he is concerned about his security.
"On the night of October 5 at 10.30 pm, (police) tried to shift me to Tughlak Road police station from ED headquarters on the ground that some pest control work was going on. Again the next day at 9.30 pm, they tried to shift me to Tughlak Road police station. When I refused to do the same they asked me to give this in writing," Singh said.
"When I asked on whose order you are shifting (me) to the police station. The officers said that there is an order from Uparwala (seniors), have you informed the court?" he said. "If my encounter takes place who will be responsible? thereafter the officer said that he would be responsible," he added.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) moved an application and sought a further five days of custody on the ground that the accused is not cooperating, not telling about his old phone and that his close associate Sarvesh Mishra is also not cooperating.
The agency also said that material collected shows that a bribe was demanded to clear liquor licences.
The bribe was taken or demanded, the court asked. On this query, ED's counsel submitted that a bribe was demanded to clear the liquor licences.
ED's Special Counsel also submitted that the Statement of a businessman also has been recorded during the investigation. Multiple searches have been conducted in Chandigarh.
During arguements, ED said that it had recorded the statement of a businessman. But can't disclose the content of the statement. ED also said that a bribe was demanded to clear the liquor licences.
The agency also said that Sarvesh Mishra is not cooperating in the investigation. He has been summoned afresh
Senior advocate Rebecca John, arguing for Sanjay Singh, submitted that in the five days, no confrontation with the witness took place.
The senior advocate submitted that to make a case for further remand ED is saying that a bribe was demanded. She added that arguements of non-cooperation violate my fundamental rights.
"I will not plead guilty," senior counsel said.
The senior counsel argued that if I wanted to destroy the evidence I would have done it in one and a half years.
She also argued that I (Sanjay Singh) reside in government accommodation, which is under CCTV.
"They have the Call Detail Record (CDR) of my phone, what more evidence do they want, Sr. Advocate asked. "For what you need me in custody," the counsel argued.
"The grant of police custody should be exceptional and not a rule. Police custody is not the norm, it is an exception," the senior advocate argued.
They have to make out a case while seeking custody. Nothing in the application necessitates futher police custody, she added.
Sanjay Singh was arrested on October 4, after a day-long questioning by the ED officials at his Delhi residence.
