New Delhi: Marred by corruption allegations over the excise policy case and the ‘sheesh mahal’ row, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party has been routed by the people of Delhi as the counting of votes gave a clear lead to the BJP in the assembly elections.
According to the latest counting trends on the Election Commission’s website, the BJP leads on 48 seats while AAP is limited to leads on 22 seats.
AAP’s second term in Delhi witnessed several setbacks with its top leaders such as Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, Sanjay Singh, Somnath Bharti and even chief Arvind Kejriwal going to jail on money laundering charges majorly due to the excise policy scam.
Interestingly, all AAP leaders who went to jail have lost their respective seats in the Delhi assembly election with Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan, who retained his seat, being the only exception in the list. Khan was released from jail in November 2024 in the Waqf Board money laundering case.
Let’s take a look at AAP leaders who went to jail and the charges against them.
Arvind Kejriwal
Kejriwal was released on bail by the Supreme Court on September 13 last year after he spent five months in jail in connection with ED’s money laundering probe into the Delhi excise policy case. He was arrested in March 2024.
Manish Sisodia
Manish Sisodia, a senior AAP leader, former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, and one of the party’s founding members, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in February 2023 in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy Scam. Since his arrest, he has remained in jail, with the courts repeatedly denying him bail. At the time of his detention, AAP described it as a “black day.” While Sisodia was forced to resign from his position, Arvind Kejriwal has continued to govern despite being in Tihar Jail. Sisodia is currently lodged in Tihar and awaits trial.
Satyendar Jain
Satyendar Jain, a key minister in the Delhi government, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in May 2022 in connection with a money laundering case. The Supreme Court of India recently denied him bail, stating that there was prima facie evidence of his involvement in money laundering activities. Since his arrest, he remained in Tihar Jail for an extended period. CCTV footage from his prison cell, showing him receiving massages from a fellow inmate, went viral on social media. Jain claimed it was therapy as part of his medical treatment. He was granted bail for medical reasons, but on 18th March, the court refused to extend it and ordered him to surrender. He is currently lodged in Tihar Jail.
Amanatullah Khan
Amanatullah Khan, AAP MLA from Okhla and a prominent Muslim face of the party, was arrested and briefly jailed in a case related to alleged illegal recruitment and financial misappropriation during his tenure as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board. He is currently out on bail.
Somnath Bharti
AAP leader Somnath Bharti was arrested in September 2015 following allegations of domestic abuse. His wife filed a complaint accusing him of assaulting her multiple times. A non-bailable warrant was issued, and he surrendered at Dwarka Police Station. However, in 2019, the Delhi High Court quashed the FIR and dropped proceedings against him in the domestic violence case. In a separate case in March 2021, Bharti was sentenced to two years in prison for leading a mob that attempted to break the boundary wall of AIIMS and pelted stones. The Delhi High Court later stayed his conviction, and he is currently on bail. The case remains sub judice.
Vijay Singla
Vijay Singla, a former AAP minister in Punjab, was removed from the cabinet by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in May 2022 following allegations of corruption. He was subsequently arrested by the Punjab Police. His case is still under judicial consideration.
Tahir Hussain
Former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain is a key accused in the 2020 Delhi Riots and has been charged in the murder case of IB officer Ankit Sharma. His name appeared in multiple FIRs, and he was booked under the UAPA. During the riots, he allegedly led a mob to attack Hindus. He initially claimed to be a victim, posting videos stating he was trapped in his residence and under attack. However, during the investigation, police recovered stones, glass bottles, and other incriminating materials from his rooftop. Despite initial support from certain political groups and activists who claimed his innocence, evidence later suggested his direct involvement in the violence. He is currently lodged in Tihar Jail.
Sanjay Singh
Rajya Sabha MP and senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in October 2023 in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy Scam. His residence was raided, and his arrest followed statements from YSR MLA Shrinivasul Reddy’s son, Raghav Matunga, and businessman Dinesh Arora, who turned approvers. On 2nd April, the Supreme Court of India granted him bail. His case remains sub judice.
Sandeep Kumar
In 2016, AAP MLA Sandeep Kumar was arrested on charges of raping a woman in exchange for facilitating the issuance of a ration card for her. An objectionable video featuring him was later leaked. Before his arrest, he served as Delhi’s Minister for Women and Child Development, as well as the Minister for Minority Affairs.
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