Excise policy case: ED opposes in Delhi HC plea by AAP leader Sanjay Singh against arrest
New Delhi, (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate Thursday opposed in the Delhi High Court a plea by AAP leader Sanjay Singh challenging his arrest in a money laundering case related to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, asserting a "clear cut" case was made out against him.
Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the federal anti-money laundering agency, said the AAP Rajya Sabha member was apprehended observing due compliance with law, and his plea, which was a bail application in the "guise" of writ petition, was not maintainable.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma reserved the order on Singh's petition after hearing the rival parties. The order is likely to be pronounced on Friday.
Singh, who was arrested by the ED on October 4, had moved the high court last week challenging his arrest and remand in the money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.
The ED's money laundering case stems from the CBI FIR.
According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 and undue favours were extended to licence holders.
It alleged Singh played a key role in the formulation and implementation of the policy, which benefited certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, for monetary considerations.
Singh had earlier told the high court that his arrest was illegal, malicious and a "classic case of perversion of power", and he should therefore be released.
Raju Thursday vehemently objected to Singh's contention that his arrest was malafide, saying it was a "bogey" and "when offence (of money laundering) is made out, malafide is irrelevant".
"He (Singh) said because I sent (legal) notice to two officers, therefore I have been falsely involved...a clear cut case is made out that he is guilty (under PMLA). Grounds of arrest make out a case of money laundering and reason to arrest," the senior law officer said. He said the arrest was not made to teach him "a lesson" and was based on material in possession of the ED, including the statement of approver Dinesh Arora.
"Essentially, he is moving a bail application in the guise of petition under article 226 (of the Constitution). No constitutional right, fundamental right is violated. Petition is not maintainable. Trying to convert petition into bail cannot be permitted," Raju contended.
The ED said Singh was an influential person who was capable of tampering with evidence. It claimed it has recovered the photograph of a document, which was in ED's possession, from Singh.
Raju also said the remand order was passed by the trial court after "total application of mind" and considering case papers, and it cannot be interfered with unless there is an error apparent on the face of record.
The senior counsel also said that being an accused in the predicate offence being probed by the CBI was not necessary as money laundering was an independent offence.
After his arrest, the trial court had remanded Singh in the custody of the agency. On October 13, he was sent to judicial custody till October 27.
Earlier, Singh's counsel had argued the arrest of the "reputed leader" was a "knee-jerk reaction" as it was done without complying with due process of law and it deserved court's "condemnation" in order to not only protect his liberty but also set the right precedent.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
