How a Delhi politician was acquitted after years of legal battles and detention
In short: Sanjay Singh, a prominent member of the Aam Aadmi Party, spent months in Tihar Jail following allegations of financial irregularities. His journey from activist to Member of Parliament has been marked by repeated parliamentary suspensions, defamation suits, and a high-profile acquittal that exposed deep flaws in investigative procedures.
Born in 1972, Sanjay Singh emerged as a key figure in Indian politics through his early activism, including the 2006 Right to Information campaign and the India Against Corruption movement. A founder member of the Aam Aadmi Party, he has served as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament since 2018. His career has been defined by frequent confrontations with the central government, leading to multiple suspensions from Parliament for protesting issues ranging from agricultural policy to the ethnic conflict in Manipur.
The most significant legal challenge Singh faced involved the Delhi liquor excise policy. In 2021, the Delhi government moved to privatize liquor sales to increase competition and revenue. This policy became the focal point of intense political conflict, leading to Singh’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in October 2023. He remained in Tihar Jail until April 2024. His detention drew scrutiny due to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which places the burden of proof on the accused, effectively reversing the traditional presumption of innocence.
In February 2026, the Rouse Avenue district court acquitted Singh of all charges. The presiding magistrate concluded that there was no criminal intent or overarching conspiracy, explicitly criticizing the Central Bureau of Investigation for a botched probe that failed to meet even the threshold for suspicion. The court recommended a departmental inquiry into the officials responsible for the investigation, marking a definitive end to a case that had dominated headlines for years.
Beyond this case, Singh’s legal history is extensive. He has faced defamation suits from political opponents and industrialists, and a 2001 protest conviction in Sultanpur was later labeled 'perverse' by the Allahabad High Court. Despite these hurdles, Singh has maintained his political standing, receiving recognition for his advocacy on child welfare and continuing his tenure in the Rajya Sabha. His trajectory highlights the complex intersection of activism, legislative duty, and the often-contentious nature of the Indian judicial process.
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