Excise Case: Delhi High Court seeks ED reply on Chanpreet Singh bail plea
Jun 14, 2024
New Delhi [India], June 14 : Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice to the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on a bail plea moved by Chanpreet Singh, an accused in the excise policy case. His bail plea was recently rejected by the trial court.
The bench of Justice Amit Sharma fixed July 2 for a detailed hearing. Chanpreet is said to be a key person involved in the transfer and use of the proceeds of crime generated by the Delhi excise policy.
Chanpreet, through advocates Chirag Madan and Ravleen Sabharwal, stated that the petitioner did not have the propensity to evade the process of law, that the petitioner has been available throughout the period of investigation and that the Petitioner has cooperated in every manner possible. However, the ED, contrary to the law, arrested the accused or petitioner.
The investigation of the petitioner is complete; further, as per the statement made by the ED, the final prosecution complaint will be filed on or before July 3, 2024.
The arrest of the petitioner is based on statements recorded by the investigation agency and there is no credible evidence or witness on whose instance even a prima facie guilt of the petitioner or accused can be established. The witnesses whose statements have been recorded are themselves questionable, as they are admittedly hawala operators whose statement are itself unreliable, said the court.
It was also informed to the Delhi High Court that the applicant, prior to his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, was arrested by the CBI in the predicate offence on May 15, 2023; however, he was released on regular on July 22, 2023, by the trial court judge.
According to the ED, Charanpreet Singh joined AAP as a freelance worker in May-June 2021 till March 2022 for the Goa election campaign of AAP. He also received salary directly from Aam Aadmi Party. He has also received a salary from m/s Wizspk Communications, which were engaged by Department of Information and Publicity of Delhi Government for PR Work.
Earlier, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrested Singh in the same case. The money laundering case stems from the CBI FIR.
The ED has arrested various people in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail under judicial custody.
