Supreme Court extends till July 24 interim bail of ex-Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in money laundering case

Satya Prakash

New Delhi, July 10

The Supreme Court on Monday extended till July 24 the interim bail given on medical grounds to former Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case arising out of the Delhi excise scam being probed by the Enforcement Directorate.

A Bench led by Justices AS Bopanna asked senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Jain, to submit the medical reports of the accused to Additional Solicitor General SV Raju who appeared on behalf of the ED, after Singhvi said the senior AAP leader had recommended a surgery.

The Supreme Court had on May 26 granted him a six-week interim bail on medical grounds.

Arrested on May 30 last year by the ED, Jain is accused of having laundered money through four companies allegedly linked to him. The case emanates from a CBI FIR registered against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

A Vacation Bench led by Justice JK Maheshwari had turned down the ED’s demand that Jain should be first examined by a panel of doctors from AIIMS before his bail plea was considered.

The top court directed Jain not to leave the area of National Capital Territory of Delhi without its permission and produce all documents relating to his treatment while out on interim bail. The interim bail was subject to conditions imposed by the trial court, it added. The Bench also restrained him from making any statements in the media during the interim bail period.

Suffering from several ailments, Jain has lost 35 kg and has been reduced to a skeleton, Singhvi submitted. He had reportedly collapsed in jail in May.

Jain has challenged the April 6 order of the Delhi High Court denying him bail in the money laundering case. Talking about the witnesses’ claim that Jain was the conceptualiser, initiator and fund provider in the alleged crime, the high court had described Jain as an influential person having the potential to tamper with evidence.

On April 6, the Delhi High Court had dismissed the bail plea of Jain in a money laundering case noting the witnesses’ claim that he was the conceptualiser, initiator and fund provider in the alleged crime. The high court had said the senior AAP leader was an influential person having the potential to tamper with evidence.

He was granted regular bail by a trial court on September 6, 2019, in the case registered by the CBI.

In 2022, the trial court had taken cognisance of the prosecution complaint (charge sheet) filed by the ED against Jain, his wife and eight others, including the four firms, in connection with the money laundering case.

On November 17 2022, the trial court had dismissed the bail pleas of Jain and two others in the case, saying he was prima facie involved in concealing the proceeds of crime. The trial court had also rejected bail pleas of Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain, saying they “knowingly” assisted Satyendar Jain in concealing the proceeds of crime and were “prima facie guilty” of money laundering.