In a significant development, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has re-nominated its senior leader, Sanjay Singh, as a member of the Rajya Sabha, as his current term is set to expire on January 27, 2024. To facilitate this, an application was filed in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court seeking permission to obtain Singh’s signatures on an ‘Undertaking,’ a crucial step for acquiring a ‘No Dues Certificate’ from the Rajya Sabha.
The court was informed that Singh’s current term as a Rajya Sabha member concludes on January 27, 2024. The Returning Officer had already issued a notice on January 2, 2024, for the election of members to the Council of States by the elected members of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. Nominations for this election were to be submitted by January 9, 2024.
The application further requested the court’s permission for Singh, currently in judicial custody due to his involvement in a money laundering case related to the Excise policy, to sign the ‘Undertaking’ and a ‘Nomination Form’ for Rajya Sabha. Additionally, the court was asked to direct the Jail Superintendent to allow the accused’s signatures on the nomination documents for submission to the Returning Officer.
Acknowledging the submissions, Special Judge MK Nagpal issued an order on January 4, 2024, granting permission for Singh to sign the ‘Undertaking’ and the ‘Nomination Form.’ The judge directed the Jail Superintendent to permit Singh’s signatures on the nomination documents when presented by his family members or legal counsel during jail visits.
Sanjay Singh, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on October 4, 2023, in connection with a money laundering case, had his bail plea dismissed by the trial court on December 22, 2023. The court expressed a prima facie view that Singh’s involvement in the alleged money laundering offense was genuine and that there were reasonable grounds to believe in his guilt. The decision cited evidence indicating his direct or indirect association with the proceeds of crime related to scheduled offenses investigated by the CBI. The court concluded that the conditions for bail under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act were not met.