Delhi High Court seeks ED response on plea by Sanjay Singh challenging arrest, remand in Delhi excise scam case

The Delhi High Court Friday sought the response of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a plea by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lawmaker Sanjay Singh challenging his arrest and remand in the alleged Delhi excise policy case. .Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice after hearing brief arguments and adjourned the case after the ED's lawyer sought time to file its response..The matter will be heard next on October 17 at 11.30 am. .The case before the High Court concerns Singh's October 4 arrest after the ED conducted a search at his residence. On October 5, he was initially remanded to ED custody till October 10 which was later extended till October 13. Earlier today, he was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody after the policy custody came to and end. Hours later, the High Court heard his plea challenging both his arrest and remand, after it was mentioned this morning by Singh's counsel. .Before the High Court, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari represented Sanjay Singh and argued that there has been a rampant abuse of the legal process."The question is the rampant abuse of process of law. A reputed leader has been arrested ... No notice or summon was ever issued to me. I wasn't called for any inquiry or investigation. Suddenly on October 4 morning they came to my house and carried out the search. At 5:25 in the evening, I was suddenly arrested," he submitted.Referring to the Supreme Court's October 3 judgment in the M3M Reality case (Pankaj Bansal v. Union of India), he also asserted that the grounds of arrest must be furnished in writing by the ED before carrying out the arrest. "Supreme Court has said something very unique. In one para, they say that ED is a premiere agency and it must be fair. The Supreme Court has said they can't be vindictive. yet, they continue to be the judge, jury and executioner," he added. Appearing for the ED, Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain countered that the agency only got a copy of Singh's petition an hour ago. He urged the Court to formally issue notice to ED and take up the matter another day. "If the notices are being issued, I will file a response. Give us two days," Hossain submitted. ."Just now means before lunch. They got the copy before lunch when it was filed. We can have a better way of asking for time. I am asking for two things," Chaudhary replied. .The Court, however, decided to give the ED time as requested. "I will give him the opportunity to file a reply. We will list it on Monday," the Court said. "ED will have to work overnight," Chaudhary remarked, in response. "I will. But I am in Supreme Court on Monday. I can't defy the laws of physics," Hossein replied. .The Court proceeded to adjourn the case till Tuesday, 11.30 am. .The case against Singh involves allegations by the ED that he played a key role in framing and implementing a now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy which was allegedly aimed at benefiting certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers.Singh's arrest marked the third high-profile arrest of an AAP leader in the excise policy case.AAP communications in-charge Vijay Nair was arrested in September 2022. Later, former Deputy Chief Minster of Delhi and AAP leader, Manish Sisodia was arrested in February 2023. Both the leaders are still behind bars.