The Supreme Court has extended the interim bail granted to AAP leader Satyendar Jain until further orders in connection with a money laundering case. The decision was made by a bench comprising Justice Bela M. Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, following arguments presented by Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Jain.
Singhvi highlighted that Jain has fully cooperated with the investigation, and there is no evidence of a predicate offence against the former minister. He emphasized that, according to the law, a shareholder or director cannot be attributed to the assets of a company, questioning how money could be linked to Jain when it resides within the company.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju represented the probe agency during the hearing.
The proceedings witnessed several twists and turns as Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud explained the bench composition change due to a matter related to bail extension. CJI also mentioned receiving communication from Justice AS Bopanna, indicating his inability to hear the matter due to medical reasons.
Satyendar Jain’s bail plea had initially been partly heard by a bench of Justices AS Bopanna and Bela M. Trivedi. However, the matter was subsequently listed before a bench comprising Justice Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma.
Jain, who underwent surgery on July 21, has been receiving interim bail on medical grounds, periodically extended. On May 26, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail for six weeks in the money laundering case, imposing conditions such as refraining from interacting with the media and not leaving Delhi without permission. The court had also granted him the right to choose any hospital for medical treatment.
Satyendar Jain had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s dismissal of his bail plea in the money laundering case. The Delhi High Court, on April 6, had rejected Jain’s bail plea, stating concerns about his influence and potential to tamper with evidence. Jain’s bail plea had been dismissed by the trial court on November 17, 2022.
The Enforcement Directorate’s case against Jain is based on a CBI complaint alleging that he acquired movable properties from 2015 to 2017, which he couldn’t satisfactorily account for. Jain was arrested on May 30, 2022, and is presently in judicial custody.