In a significant crackdown in the Excise Policy scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi and the chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Several AAP leaders are currently incarcerated, facing allegations ranging from the liquor scandal to hawala transactions and beyond. Let us uncover which AAP figures have so far encountered the chilling embrace of the jail corridors -
1- Sanjay Singh:
In October 2023, following an extended interrogation, Sanjay Singh was arrested by the ED in relation to the alleged Delhi Liquor Policy scam and is now behind bars. Preceding his arrest, the ED had raided his premises, authorized by a Delhi court in response to laundering charges in the scandal tied to MP Srinivasulu Reddy's son, Raghav Magunta, and businessman Dinesh Arora being declared state witnesses.
Following a charge sheet by the ED, it was revealed that Dinesh Arora had met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence, a meeting also attended by Sanjay Singh. Arora disclosed during interrogation that he had first met Sanjay Singh at an event, which was followed by his acquaintance with Manish Sisodia. Sources suggest that this event was a fundraiser organized by AAP leaders ahead of the Delhi elections.
2- Manish Sisodia:
The then Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, after eight hours of questioning over his involvement in the liquor scam. Investigations also recorded the testimony of a bureaucrat who asserted Sisodia's critical role in drafting the Excise Policy. The CBI arrested him on charges of evidence tampering, which they contend involved Sisodia's complicity. In his statement to the CBI, an official confessed Sisodia's vital contribution in the policy development.
3- Satyendar Jain:
Prior to Sisodia, AAP leader Satyendar Jain was detained by the ED in May 2022 due to suspected hawala transactions. The Court had initially granted Jain interim bail on medical grounds roughly nine months prior, but his bail was recently revoked, leading to his imprisonment at Tihar Jail No. 7.
4- Amanatullah Khan -
AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, currently out on bail, was previously apprehended by the Anti Corruption Bureau in September 2022 for unauthorized appointments and financial fraud as the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board. He also faced allegations of sexual harassment, rape, and intimidation by a woman. As chairman, he was accused of illicit hiring and financial misconduct. A Delhi court had concluded that there was sufficient evidence for legal proceedings.
5-Somnath Bharti-
Somnath Bharti, former Law Minister and MLA for Malviya Nagar, was arrested by police in December 2015, following his wife's allegations against him of attempted murder and domestic violence. He also made headlines for property damage at AIIMS and the alleged assault of a security guard, for which he was sentenced in 2021 by a Delhi court to two years in jail.
6- Sandeep Kumar-
Former AAP Minister Sandeep Kumar, dismissed over a scandalous CD, was jailed for raping a woman under the pretense of arranging a ration card in 2016. Elected MLA for Sultanpur Majra in 2015, Kumar was previously appointed Minister for Women and Child Development, with additional responsibilities for the SC-ST Welfare Ministry.
7- Naresh Yadav-
MLA for Mehrauli, Naresh Yadav, was arrested by police on charges of defiling the Quran in Malerkotla, Punjab. However, in 2021, he was acquitted by the court in this case.
8- Prakash Jarwal-
Arrested in July 2016 for harassing a woman, Jarwal was detained again in 2018 for misbehavior with Delhi's Chief Secretary. He had also been arrested in 2014 for slapping a Delhi Jal Board employee. Jarwal represented the Deoli constituency.
9-Akhilesh Pati Tripathi:
Akhilesh Pati Tripathi, AAP MLA, was taken into custody by Delhi Police in November 2019. A non-bailable warrant was issued for his failure to appear in court. Though he was briefly released on bail, Tripathi, representing the Model Town constituency, had been previously accused of inciting riots and arrested in November 2015 for the same.
10- Manoj Kumar:
Manoj Kumar, MLA for Kondli, was arrested on July 10, 2015, on charges of fraud and land grabbing. He also encountered a domestic violence case wherein he had to appear before the Delhi Commission for Women. However, the courts acquitted him of the domestic violence charges in 2020.
11- Sharad Chauhan:
Narela's MLA Sharad Chauhan was arrested in June 2016 after AAP activist Soni Mishra accused him of instigating her suicide.
12- Jitender Singh Tomar:
Former Law Minister and MLA for Trinagar, Jitender Singh Tomar was arrested in 2015 for holding a bogus law degree and spent a month and a half in Tihar Jail. His degree's authenticity was contested via RTI revelations in April.
13- Dinesh Mohania:
Dinesh Mohania, the AAP MLA from Sangam Vihar, was arrested in June 2016 following a woman's complaint of misconduct. He faced charges of harassment and sexual assault, but by 2020 he was acquitted by a Delhi court.
