T the Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed the bail plea of former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), noting the witnesses’ claim that he was the conceptualiser, initiator and fund provider in the alleged crime.
The high court said the senior AAP leader was an influential person having the potential to tamper with evidence. It “out-rightly” rejected Jain’s submission that he was not found in physical possession of any property, saying for the offence of money laundering physical possession of the proceeds of crime is not necessary.
Satyendar Jain, who was arrested on May 30 last year by the ED, is accused of having laundered money through four companies allegedly linked to him.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma also rejected the bail pleas of Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain, the co-accused in the case. “The petitioner Satyendar Kumar Jain is an influential person and has a potential to tamper with the evidence as indicated by his conduct during the custody,” the judge said. The high court said it has examined the entire facts objectively in accordance with the law without being influenced by the stature of Jain.
It upheld the trial court’s order dismissing the bail pleas of the three accused, saying there is no illegality or perversity in the decision and the order was well-reasoned based on material on record. “The court has taken note of the fact that Satyendar Kumar Jain has resigned as a minister…. petitioners have failed to meet the twin conditions as provided under Section 45 PMLA as well as the conditions as laid down under Section 439 CrPC and are thus not entitled for bail. Hence, the bail applications are rejected,” Justice Sharma said.
The three accused had challenged the trial court’s November 17 last year order by which their bail pleas were dismissed.
