India’s Supreme Court Grants Bail to Opposition Leader in Money Laundering Case
In a significant development, India’s Supreme Court has approved bail for Sanjay Singh, a prominent opposition MP and leader of Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who was embroiled in a money laundering case.
The arrest of Singh in October was part of an investigation related to the city’s controversial alcohol sales policies, which have since been revoked. Despite vehemently denying the corruption charges levied against him, Singh took his case to court to challenge his arrest.
Following a thorough examination, the court noted that India’s financial crimes agency had not unearthed any illicit funds linked to Singh. “Factually speaking, there has been no recovery of money,” the court affirmed before granting him bail.
However, a separate plea by Singh alleging his illegal detention by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was dismissed by the court. The decision to grant bail to Singh comes on the heels of the recent arrest of his colleague and Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the same case.
This move has triggered a wave of criticism from opposition parties, who contend that the government is attempting to stifle dissent ahead of the imminent general elections. The ED is currently probing allegations that the alcohol sale policy introduced by the Delhi government in 2022, which dismantled the government monopoly, unfairly favored private retailers.
Several AAP leaders have been implicated in accepting bribes in exchange for facilitating liquor licenses for specific businesses. Singh becomes the second AAP leader to be apprehended following the arrest of Delhi’s former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia earlier this year.
The AAP vehemently refutes any allegations of misconduct and asserts that the legal actions against its members are politically motivated. The party’s inception stemmed from a substantial anti-corruption movement over a decade ago, making allegations of financial impropriety particularly sensitive.
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of targeting them, AAP leaders assert that they are being unfairly singled out. This sentiment is echoed by other opposition factions in India, who accuse the BJP of leveraging federal investigative bodies for settling political vendettas—a charge vehemently refuted by the ruling party. – BBC
