The Delhi High Court has taken cognizance of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Kumar Jain’s plea for default bail in the Money Laundering Case, issuing a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday. This comes after Jain contested the Rouse Avenue Court’s decision on May 15, which denied him default bail in the ongoing investigation.
Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma’s bench, after hearing submissions, has directed the ED to respond and scheduled a detailed hearing for July 9.
Satyendar Kumar, in his plea before the Delhi High Court, contends that the ED failed to conclude the investigation within the statutory period. He argues that the prosecution complaint, filed prematurely, aims to deprive him of default bail under Section 167 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Emphasizing a legal precedent, Jain asserts that filing a chargesheet before completing the investigation violates Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. He maintains that even in cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), incomplete investigations warrant the right to default bail.
Notably, the Supreme Court recently dismissed a similar bail plea filed by former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain in a separate money laundering case. Last year, the Delhi High Court and the trial court had also rejected Jain’s bail petitions, citing concerns over his potential to influence evidence tampering.
Jain, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 30, 2022, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), remains in judicial custody. The ED’s case stems from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complaint, alleging Jain’s acquisition of movable properties between February 14, 2015, and May 31, 2017, without satisfactory explanation.
As the legal battle unfolds, Jain’s quest for default bail underscores the complexity and gravity of the ongoing investigation, further intensifying the legal scrutiny surrounding the prominent AAP leader’s involvement in the money laundering case.
