The Enforcement Directorate arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in connection with the liquor policy case on
Wednesday.
Singh was taken into custody from his residence after a day-long grilling
by the ED officials. The AAP leader was escorted by the ED officials amid sloganeering
from his party supporters, who had gathered to protest the move by the agency.
The arrest drew a scathing response from Delhi Chief Minister and
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
The CM, in a no-holds-barred attack on the BJP-led Centre, said it
has brought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “frustrations” to the fore.
The AAP national convenor, who visited Singh’s family members at
his Delhi residence on Wednesday, claimed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED)
found nothing during a search of his address but still placed him under arrest.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi said the arrest of Sanjay
Singh in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case is part of a continuing
effort towards building a Bhrashtachaar Mukt Bharat (corruption-free Bharat).
While saying that the Opposition leaders have come to power for the
welfare of the families or political dynasties that they represent, the Union Minister
said it was the PM Modi-led Government that took the pledge Naa Khaunga, Na
Khane Dunga (will neither take bribes nor let others take it).
“The Opposition works for the welfare of their own dynasties. It is
the Modi Government that took the pledge Naa Khaunga, Na Khane Dunga. This is
an effort towards building a corruption-free Bharat.”
“The probe agencies of the country were founded by the law of the
land, in a bid to root out corruption. We did not tell them (Opposition
leaders) to be corrupt. If they have indulged in corruption, an investigation
will follow and action will be taken,” Lekhi told reporters.
Singh’s was the third high-profile arrest in the case after former
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26 for his alleged role
in the scam.
The central probe agency raided the residence of Sanjay Singh in
connection with the now-cancelled liquor excise policy in Delhi. The
development followed ED’s raid on the premises of Sanjay Singh’s close aides.
The Delhi excise policy case pertains to allegations that the Arvind
Kejriwal-led Delhi Government’s excise policy for 2021-22 allowed cartelisation
and favoured certain dealers, who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge
that has been strongly refuted by the AAP.
ED has so far filed five chargesheets in the case, including
against Sisodia.
ANI
