AAP Senior Leader and Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sanjay Singh has demanded the ED to issue a public apology to him within 48 hours. The MP has slapped a legal notice upon the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for tarnishing and mutilating his public image. The notice comes after ED officials made false and malicious statements against the MP in its Excise Policy case complaint. According to the notice sent by the MP, the ED attempted to popularise a perverse, false, motivated, wild, malicious, and baseless campaign to defame him. He further asserted that the statements made by the ED officials were untrue, defamatory, and incriminating.
As a result, the MP’s lawyers have served a notice to ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra and Additional Director Jogender today. They have demanded a public apology from the ED officials within 48 hours failing which, civil and criminal proceedings will be initiated against them. The notice also highlights that the MP’s legal team has evidence to prove that the allegations made by the ED officials are baseless.
Speaking about the issue, Shri Sanjay Singh said that it is highly regrettable that an agency like the ED, which is supposed to be impartial, has resorted to such baseless allegations against him. “I will not tolerate this kind of character assassination, and I have decided to take legal action against the officials responsible,” he said.
AAP Senior Leader and Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sanjay Singh served a legal notice to the ED, on Saturday. The notice was sent on the MP’s behalf by Advocate Maninderjit Singh Bedi. The notice, which has been addressed to Enforcement Directorate’s Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra and Additional Director Jogender, states that the officials have knowingly and intentionally made certain untrue, defamatory, and incriminating statements against the MP in the Delhi Excise Policy prosecution complaint.
The notice further points out that the ED’s associates, agents and employees have attempted to tarnish and mutilate the AAP leader’s public image and have attempted to otherwise popularise a perverse, false, motivated, wild, malicious and baseless campaign against his alleged involvement in Delhi Excise Policy. It further reads that in conspiracy to defame and effect reputation of Shri Sanjay Singh, the ED has deliberately & maliciously defamed him by imputing his involvement in some Liquor Policy on the basis of an alleged statement dated 01.10.2022 recorded under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act of Dinesh Arora.
While also categorically denying the allegations, the notice states that the allegations are completely baseless, malicious, and utter falsehood. It was portrayed by ED that the MP is involved in the alleged matter, which is false and derogatory, it further says.
The notice further asserts that the name of Shri Sanjay Singh was mentioned by ED out of nowhere and without any basis, by making false statements in Judicial proceedings where ED are obligated to make only truthful assertions. The said false and derogatory statements have been made with the clear intention to defame the MP and to adversely affect his reputation and subject him to ridicule and social hatred. “The alleged statement of Sh. Dinesh Arora as recorded by ED has been mischaracterized and misquoted by ED in the complaint for ulterior purposes. The ED have intentionally added the name Shri Sanjay without any basis with the mala-fide intent to cause disrepute to him. Towards this end, the ED has further circulated and caused to be published the complaint and specifically the portion pertaining to my client,” it reads.
The notice calls upon the ED to immediately issue an open and public apology within 48 hours of receipt of the notice, for the mental agony and harassment faced by the MP. “Please note that ED is severely liable for such misdeed done with malicious intent. If you fail to comply with the above within 48 hours of the date of receipt of this notice, I have instructions to initiate appropriate civil & criminal proceedings against you before the competent court, and in that event, you shall be fully responsible for the same and related cost and consequences,” the notice further says.
