Sanjay Singh bail news highlights: ‘Kejriwal will not resign, will work for Delhi people,’ says AAP MP

Sanjay Singh bail LIVE: “Arvind Kejriwal will not resign at all and will work for the two crore people of Delhi. It is said that how will one write a letter… I have come back after spending six months in jail. It is written in the jail manual that any person can write unlimited letters while in jail…If someone wants to write a government letter, then permission is required from the court,” says AAP MP Sanjay Singh at party headquarters after walking out of Tihar Jail today.

Sanjay Singh bail LIVE: After his release from Tihar Jail after six months, AAP MP Sanjay Singh is addressing the party headquarters in New Delhi.

“I want to say that AAP was born from agitation. We are not afraid of anything,” he said.

“There is widespread tyranny in the country, and all of us stand with CM Arvind Kejriwal,” he added.

Sanjay Singh bail LIVE: AAP MP Sanjay Singh met jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife, Sunita Kejriwal, after walking out of Tihar Jail on Wednesday evening.

The Supreme Court granted bail to the AAP leader on Tuesday, who was jailed six months ago in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, which is now scrapped.

Sanjay Singh bail LIVE: After walking out of Tihar Jail upon being released on bail by the Supreme Court the previous day, AAP MP Sanjay Singh says, "This is the time to struggle. The biggest leaders of our party (AAP) - Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain - have been kept behind the bars. I am confident that one day the locks of this prison will be broken and they will come out. This is why I want to say that this is not the time to celebrate, this is the time to struggle," says AAP leader Sanjay Singh after walking out of Delhi's Tihar Jail,

He received a rousing welcome from party leaders and workers outside Tihar Jail in Delhi.

Sanjay Singh bail LIVE: Delhi Minister Atishi as AAP MP Sanjay Singh walks out of Tihar Jail, says, “Truth has triumphed. For the last two years, they have been investigating this fake liquor policy case. ED conducted several raids but still, they could not find corruption money from AAP.”

Sanjay Singh bail LIVE: After AAP MP Sanjay Singh comes out of Tihar Jail, his father Dinesh Singh says, "Me, my family, party workers & the party see this as a special moment..."

Sanjay Singh, who was arrested six months ago in October, was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Tuesday in connection with the now-scrapped liquor policy scam.

Arvind Kejriwal LIVE: Punjab chief minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann has requested permission from the Tihar Jail administration to meet Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. The chief minister's Office has reportedly written to the Tihar Jail administration seeking approval for this meeting, as per sources cited by news agency ANI.

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE: A Delhi court on Wednesday instructed Tihar jail authorities to furnish an electric kettle to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal due to his "medical condition," along with a table and chair for reading purposes.

The directions were issued by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja following a request from Kejriwal's lawyer, who emphasized the necessity of an electric kettle for heating water and preparing tea for the Aam Aadmi Party convenor.

“However, the jail provides tea in accordance with the Jail Rules only,” the application said.

The lawyer mentioned that when Kejriwal was remanded to jail on April 1, a request was made for him to be supplied with a chair and table. However, no instructions were given at that time.

Earlier, on April 1, the court had extended Kejriwal's judicial custody until April 15 in connection with the money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam.

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced on Wednesday its plan to hold a nationwide collective fast on April 7 at Jantar Mantar in protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Gopal Rai, party leader and the Delhi state convener of AAP, made the announcement during a press briefing.

Rai stated that the party has resolved to observe a nationwide collective fast on April 7 to rally widespread public support for Kejriwal's cause.

"Those who are against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, who want to save the country's democracy, and stop injustice and dictatorship, are urged to observe collective fasts in their homes, villages, neighbourhoods, block headquarters, tehsils, districts, and state capitals," he said.

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE: “Atishi held a press conference yesterday in which she made false, concocted, scandalous and defamatory remarks against the BJP. She said that a person close to her was contacted (by someone) to make her join the BJP, but she gave no input on contact details or other information. We have served her legal notice, seeking details of the person who contacted her, and if those statements were false, she should withdraw it,” says advocate Satya Ranjan Swain.

On Tuesday, Atishi asserted that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was considering possibly arresting herand AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Durgesh Pathak, and Raghav Chadha. She further mentioned that she had been informed that they would face arrest if they declined to join the BJP. “I have been told that I should boost my political career by joining the BJP, otherwise the ED will arrest me in a month. ...Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have made up their minds to crush AAP and all its leaders.”

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE: Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant asserted on Wednesday that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders in the state were apprehensive following the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal and others in the Delhi excise policy case.

“The AAP leaders are afraid after arrests in the Delhi excise scam, and they are tracking my activities,” Sawant alleged.

Addressing party workers in Velim within the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency on Tuesday, Sawant stated that he is accused of direct involvement in a conspiracy related to the formulation of the excise policy, favouring specific individuals, according to news agency PTI.

Kejriwal was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in relation to a money laundering investigation associated with his government's defunct excise policy.

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with the liquor policy scam which is now scrapped.

Delhi excise policy case -

- The case revolves around accusations of corruption and money laundering associated with developing and implementing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently annulled.

- According to the Enforcement Directorate, AAP leaders allegedly received kickbacks amounting to ₹100 crore as part of the excise policy. Additionally, Kejriwal's name has been recurrently cited in the charge sheets submitted by the ED.

- The agency contends that the accused individuals communicated with Kejriwal during the formulation of the excise policy.

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE: The Delhi High Court, after hearing arguments from both sides (Arvind Kejriwal's and the ED's) has reserved judgment on Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest and remand in connection with his alleged involvement in the controversial Delhi excise policy. The decision was made by a bench presided over by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma.

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE: In his rejoinder, Singhvi emphasises that there is not a single dot or comma of evidence linking the proceeds of crime to Arvind Kejriwal. He further asserts that it is "preposterous to say that the chief minister of Delhi would be involved in hawala transactions."

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE: The ED asserted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) engaged in money laundering through Arvind Kejriwal, thereby falling under section 70 of the PMLA 2002.

Furthermore, the ED claimed that the AAP is the primary beneficiary of the proceeds of crime originating from the Delhi Liquor Scam. A portion of these proceeds, amounting to approximately Rs. 45 crore in cash, was allegedly utilised during the AAP's election campaign for the Goa Assembly elections in 2022.

According to the ED, the AAP is a political entity consisting of an association of individuals registered under Section 29-A of the Representation of People Act, 1951.

Section 70(1) of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) states: “Where a person committing a contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule, direction or order made thereunder is a company, every person who, at the time the contravention was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to the company, for the conduct of the business of the company as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the contravention and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.”

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE: Representing the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, senior advocate AM Singhvi submits in his rejoinder that the Enforcement Directorate, by "mischaracterising" the plea, aims to render it non-maintainable. "Even if it's a quashing petition, challenge to remand, habeas corpus plea, or bail, he doesn't call it what it is—a challenge to illegal arrest under section 19 of PMLA," he adds.

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE: Regarding Kejriwal’s contention that section 70 (offence by companies) would not be applicable on AAP since it is a political party registered under the Representation of People’s Act, Raju says that AAP is an association of individuals. “The definition of company u/s 70 PMLA is wide it not only includes firms, but also association of persons & individuals. AAP is a company under section 70 of the PMLA.”

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE: “The person has so much influence that he has acquired copies of previous chargesheets, relied and unrelied documents,” the law officer says in Delhi trial court.

Raju, the advocate representing ED states that although Kejriwal's argument is that there is no new material, the ED possesses WhatsApp chats, hawala operation statements, and a substantial amount of income tax data. “It’s not as if we are shooting in the dark,” Raju adds.

Considering the law officer’s statement, the court expresses its intention to peruse the case file before reserving judgment.

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE: Addressing Kejriwal’s claim that the ED “did not have sufficient material to arrest the CM,” the law officer points to the trial court’s March 22 order, by which his custody was extended till March 28. In this order, the special judge observed that conditions under section 19 of the PMLA were complied with. “This is not a mechanical order but an order which has been passed after application of mind,” the law officer adds.

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE Updates: Regarding Kejriwal’s contention that his arrest around the elections disturbs the level playing field and is against the basic structure, the law officer says, “Criminals and undertrials have no business to say that we will commit a crime and will not be arrested because elections are here.”

“This is completely ridiculous. It will give license to criminals to roam around freely. Aam aadmi has to go behind bars if he has committed a crime but because you are a chief minister you can't be arrested? You will loot the country but no one can touch you because the elections are coming? You say your arrest will infringe on basic structure? What type of basic structure is this?” he adds.

Arvind Kejriwal arrest LIVE Updates: "Where is the question of 'mere ghar kuchh nahi mila'? (you did not get anything from my home) Paisa to aapne Goa election mein use kar liya (money was used in the Goa election)... When ED asks you kahan hain paisa? (When ED asks where is the money?) you say mujhe nahi pata ( you say I don't know)" says ED advocate Raju.

Concealment can be in different ways. It can be sent abroad & then ED asks you, and you say Mujhe nahi pata. Finding of proceeds of crime is irrelevant. But the argument is, “Mere ghar se toh kuch nahi mila par agar aapne kisi aur ko de diya toh kaha milega aapke ghar se?”