Delhi Police detained several Aam Admi Party (AAP) workers on Thursday who staged a protest in central Delhi against the arrest of Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in connection with the controversial excise policy case. As per media reports, several party workers gathered at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) office at DDU Marg on Thursday, raising slogans against the Centre and demanding release of Singh.
Yesterday, several Aam Admi Party workers were detained while protesting in Lucknow against the ED raid at Sanjay Singh’s residence
According to the party, the federal probe agency Enforcement Directorate arrested Singh for raising issues related to the Adani Group in Parliament.
Singh was arrested on Wednesday in connection with alleged corruption in 2021-22 Delhi Excise policy case.
AAP Supremo Kejriwal's response
Retaliating to the Centre's move of arresting AAP MP Sanjay Singh, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said AAP leader Sanjay Singh's arrest is a fallout of the BJP's frustration with the opposition INDIA alliance.
"We all know that the path of honesty is tough. If we become dishonest like them, all our problems will end. We are hardcore honest and that is why these problems are arising," Kejriwal said.
"Their biggest peeve is this -- they are corrupt from head to toe and have no counter to our honesty. They tried to defame us sometimes by saying that Kejriwal was involved in a bus scam, electricity scam, water scam. They scanned through my previous seven births," he added.
Attacking the BJP-led central government, Kejriwal said more than 1,000 raids have been carried out as part of the investigation in the excise policy case but not a penny of ill-gotten wealth has been found.
"They arrested Sanjay Singh, who is a strong voice against the corruption of Modiji. He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) is corrupt from head to toe. I think he is the most corrupt prime minister in independent India," Kejriwal said.
"When their government will not be in power in the future, their corruption will come to the fore. Sanjay Singh is the strongest voice against this corruption," he said.
Oppositions' reaction: Who said what?
Opposition parties on Thursday strongly condemned the Centre's drastic move of apprehending MP Sanjay Singh in connection with the scrapped Delhi excise policy case.
Criticising the Centre, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said he strongly condemns the arrest of Singh and accused the BJP of using the Enforcement Directorate as a political weapon against the opposition.
"They have made ED their political weapon. Because Sanjay Singh speaks strongly in Rajya Sabha, he has been put behind bars in order to silence his voice. This is a predetermined plan to silence the voice of a strong and emerging leader," Digvijaya Singh said.
Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said the BJP leaders are scared and perturbed and that "they will take similar action here (in Bihar) as well."
"Wherever the regional party is performing well, they are harassing the governments there," he said on Singh's arrest.
"Opposition leaders are facing continuous pressure. Sanjay Singh is a strong voice from the opposition parties in Rajya Sabha, and this arrest is an attempt to silence him," said Janata Dal (United) spokesperson KC Tyagi.
RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha said it is not the arrest of Sanjay Singh, but of the freedom of thought.
"Yesterday, it was 'NewsClick' and the journalists connected to it. Today, it's Sanjay Singh. Just look at some past incidents - like the release of the Bihar Caste Census report. The party (BJP) can't understand anything, they have to manage headlines and scare opposition leaders," Jha said.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the Modi government must go for the sake of 'India that is Bharat'.
"Strongly condemn the outrageous arrest of AAP MP Sanjay Singh. ED under Modi routinely arrests political opponents on grounds of 'non cooperation' for not accepting their fabricated statements," Yechury said in a post on X.
"For the sake of 'India that is Bharat' Modi govt must go," he said.
Allegations against AAP MP Sanjay Singh
ED in its chargesheet has mentioned that Delhi-based businessman Dinesh Arora, who was named as an accused in the Delhi liquor policy scam case, earlier held a meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence, in the presence of Sanjay Singh.
According to Arora's statement, as recorded by the ED, he had met Sanjay Singh during an event, following which he also came in touch with former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Sources said the event was organised to raise funds before the Delhi elections.
According to the ED chargesheet, "He (Dinesh Arora) initially met Sanjay Singh through whom he came in contact with Manish Sisodia during a party at his own restaurant, namely Unplugged Courtyard. On request of Sanjay Singh, he spoke with many of the restaurant owners and arranged cheques amounting to Rs 32 lakh (handed over to Sisodia) for collection of party funds for upcoming elections in Delhi."
The financial probe agency has also alleged that Sanjay Singh resolved one of Dinesh Arora's long-pending issues with the liquor department.
The liquor policy case
The liquor policy was scrapped after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into alleged corruption.
The ED and the CBI have alleged the Delhi government's liquor policy for 2021-22 allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who paid bribes for licences.
