AAP’s Sanjay Singh Not Allowed To Take Oath As Rajya Sabha MP; Here’s Why

Jailed Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh was not sworn in as a member of Parliament on Monday as the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar refused to allow him to take oath. Vice President Dhankhar, said that the matter is currently with the Privileges Committee.

Singh, who was suspended from the Rajya Sabha on July 24 last year for not following the directions of the chair, was renominated by the AAP for another term as Upper House MP in January.

The anti-money laundering agency had arrested Singh on October 4.

Earlier, the Rouse Avenue court on Saturday allowed Singh to take oath as MP Rajya Sabha in custody. The court also extended the judicial custody of Sanjay Singh till February 17. He was produced physically before the court.

Singh was earlier granted permission to file his election nomination and to collect his membership certificate from the returning officer.

The court had on December 22 dismissed his bail application, observing that he was connected with the “proceeds of crime to the extent of Rs 2 crore and the case against him was “genuine”. Singh was elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Delhi last month for a second term.

The agency has alleged that Singh played a key role in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22, which benefited certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, for monetary considerations. Singh is accused of receiving Rs 2 crore which were alleged proceeds of the predicate or scheduled offence involving alleged corruption in formulating and executing the city government’s excise policy.

The ED started its investigation after an FIR was lodged by the CBI in the matter over alleged corruption following a complaint by Lt Governor V K Saxena. Singh has denied the charges against him, with the Aam Aadmi Party alleging that its leaders were being targeted due to political vendetta.