New Delhi: Upping the ante against Enforcement Directorate (ED), AAP lawmaker Sanjay Singh has sought sanction from the Union finance secretary to sue two top agency officials for defamation, alleging that they framed him in the Delhi liquor policy case to damage his reputation.
Singh said that ED director Sanjay Kumar Mishra and assistant director Jogender named him in a prosecution complaint pertaining to the alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Police 2021-22, without any basis with a “malicious intention” to dent his public image.
The Rajya Sabha MP said that he was seeking the grant of sanction against the two ED officers “out of abundant caution”
In his application, Singh wrote: “I am seeking grant of sanction for prosecution of director and assistant director under Section 499 read with Section 500 of the IPC.”
Singh accused the officers of making defamatory statements against him and further circulated the same widely, which has negatively affected his reputation.
He alleged that Mishra and Jogender deliberately and maliciously imputed his involvement in some liquor policy based on an alleged statement dated October 1, 2022 of Dinesh Arora, an accused who has turned witness in the case.
Singh further stated that the “false and derogatory statements” made by the officers have been widely publicized in the media, bringing severe dishonour and disrepute to him.
He also accused the officers of misusing their position to make untrue and incorrect statements, which has tarnished and blemished his goodwill and reputation, adding that the baseless and unacceptable statements made have affected his political image and his credentials among the masses have also been severely tainted.
Singh had earlier sent a legal notice to the officers, requesting an open and public apology within 48 hours of receipt of the notice. However, no apology or clarification has been tendered by them till date, he wrote.
The lawmaker alleged that the investigation is being carried out in an unfair manner, and he is intentionally being framed, despite the fact that no specific allegation has been made against him.
The prosecution complaint, filed in the first week of April, allegedly falsely imputes illegal actions to Singh without any specific allegations being made against him.
“While it is my understanding and view that no sanction would be required for initiating criminal proceedings against them under Section 197 of the CrPC, 1973, I am moving the present request/application for sanction out of abundant caution,” the officer wrote.
Apart from Singh, names of at least three AAP leaders – chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia (arrested), and Raghav Chadha – have found mention in official documents related to the liquor policy case.