AAP MP Sanjay Singh arrested in excise case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) parliamentarian Sanjay Singh after questioning him during a day-long raid at his residence in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi's now-scrapped excise policy, sparking a political firestorm.

- Neeraj Chauhan

Singh, a 51-year-old member of the Rajya Sabha, was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for allegedly playing a key role in procuring favours for himself and certain businessmen through his aides by influencing the 2021 policy.

"We have found robust evidence which reveals that Sanjay Singh benefitted from the excise policy through his aides. He was not cooperating in the probe since the beginning," said an officer from the federal agency, without quantifying the kickbacks allegedly linked to the politician or divulging details of the money trail.

The MP - who is the second senior AAP leader to be arrested in the case after former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in February this year - will be produced before a court in Delhi on Thursday.

"Today, ED suddenly arrived at my residence and carried searches throughout the day but nothing was recovered. Despite this, I am being forcibly arrested. Now, a lot of fake stories and news will be planted," Singh said in a video statement issued moments before he was arrested.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal went to Singh's North Avenue residence on Wednesday evening and said the arrest was illegal. "This shows Modi ji's nervousness. They will arrest many more opposition leaders before the elections," Kejriwal said on X.

"Sanjay Singh is the strongest voice against Narendra Modi's corruption in the country. Initially, he (the PM) got Sanjay Singh suspended from the Parliament, and today he was arrested in a completely fake case," the CM added.

Other opposition parties backed Singh. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "Opposition leaders are well-prepared now. It is nothing new. It is fortunate that those elected by the people are doing 'injustice."