Sanjay Singh's bail: Will it help ease tough PMLA rules, give respite to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in liquor policy case?

The Supreme Court on April 2 granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member of parliament (MP) Sanjay Singh in a case linked to the Delhi liquor policy scam.

Sanjay Singh’s bail comes less than two weeks after his party colleague and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the (ED) for his alleged role in the same case. Kejriwal is lodged in Tihar jail until April 15.

During the bail hearing on Tuesday, the top court asked the ED why Singh had been in jail for over six months without a trial or recovery of allegedbribe money. The ED, in turn, declined to contest Singh’s bail. Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, is also in jail in the same case.

Sanjay Singh bail: Supreme Court slams ED, ‘Nothing has been recovered…’

"Sanjay Singh is free on bail, because the SC hearing asked some questions on the construction of the PMLA. The Union's lawyers informed the court that they would not oppose bail, thus obviating need for a detailed judgement that may have caused problems later for ED’s case," Supreme Court lawyer Sanjay Hegde wrote in X.

Singh has been in Tihar jail since October last year after being arrested on money laundering charges in the alleged liquor scam. Last month, Singh was sworn in as Rajya Sabha MP from inside jail. AAP leader Atishi Marlena said Singh’s bail and the observation by the court have vindicated the party's stand.

“First, when the Supreme Court asked the ED the whereabouts of the money trail, the ED had no answer. Second, the entire case of this so-called Excise Policy Scam with the ED is based on statements given by approvers. The first few statements given by these approvers were not considered because they did not name AAP leaders. They were pressurised and