Jailed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh faced a setback today as he was denied the opportunity to take oath for his second term in the Rajya Sabha. The refusal came from Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, citing an ongoing investigation by the House”s privileges committee into Singh”s actions.

The 51-year-old AAP leader had been suspended from the Rajya Sabha in July last year for violating directives from the Chair. Subsequently, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in October, to a money laundering case. Despite being in judicial custody, a Delhi court granted permission for Singh to take the oath as a Rajya Sabha MP today.

Singh, who had sought interim bail to fulfill his parliamentary duties and participate in the ongoing Budget session from February 5 to 9, faced opposition from the Enforcement Directorate. The agency, investigating the money trail in the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy, alleged that Singh was involved in a conspiracy to collect kickbacks from liquor groups.

Last month, Singh was elected unopposed for his second term in the Rajya Sabha, a position he first assumed in 2018. Alongside him, AAP members Swati Maliwal and Narain Dass Gupta also secured unopposed victories and took their oaths on January 31.

The case against Singh is linked to the Delhi excise policy for 2021-22, which accuses the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government of fostering cartelisation and favouring certain dealers who allegedly paid bribes. The AAP vehemently denies these allegations.

Sanjay Singh”s party colleague and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, has been in jail since March 2023 in connection with the same case. The unfolding events cast a shadow on the AAP, prompting scrutiny and challenges for the party leadership in navigating the legal complexities surrounding its members.