The Delhi Court granted interim bail to businessman Amit Arora in connection with an excise duty case. Arora’s legal team argued that his detention was unjustified, citing health concerns and cooperative behaviour. The court acknowledged these factors and provided temporary relief.
New Delhi: A Delhi court granted a two-week interim bail to Amit Arora, the director of Buddy Retail Pvt Limited in Gurugram. This bail granted in a money laundering case related to an alleged excise scam.
The Special Judge for ED and CBI matters, Kaveri Baweja, noted in an order passed on June 6 that Amit Arora‘s wife needed to undergo a surgical procedure, and he required time to take care of her.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha currently in judicial custody in the case.
Read Also: Chronology of Delhi Excise Policy Case Involving Arvind Kejriwal
The judge acknowledged the submissions made by senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, who representing the accused. Pahwa informed the court that the father of the accused’s wife had already passed away, and her mother, who is around 72 years old, resides in Mohali, Punjab. Additionally, the wife’s two brothers live in Bengaluru and London, UK, respectively.
The judge further noted that no other family member, such as a cousin, stays in the house or in the proximity, and they hardly visit the applicant’s house to take care of the wife and children.
The judge noted that extended family members cannot adequately compensate for the absence of the husband or father in taking care of the applicant’s family.
The judge remarked,
“After considering the arguments presented and reviewing the case records, including the medical documents of the applicant’s wife and the medical condition of his two children, and given that there is no one else in either the applicant’s or his wife’s family who can provide the necessary postoperative care and support, the application is approved,”
The judge granted relief on a personal bond of Rs. 2 lakh with one surety of the same amount.
Additionally, the judge instructed the accused not to leave the Delhi NCR area unless necessary for his wife’s medical treatment.
The judge instructed,
“He must not destroy or tamper with the evidence in this case, nor influence any witnesses, or attempt to do so. He must refrain from any criminal activities or committing any offenses of any kind and must not misuse the interim bail granted to him for any purpose.”
Pahwa argued that Arora previously been granted interim bail on similar grounds and there were no allegations of him misusing the relief.
Pahwa informed the court,
“There is no allegation that he misused the relief. He appeared before the ED whenever required,”
Pahwa also noted that the accused had been in custody for over 480 days.
Read Also: Delhi Excise Policy Case| The Chronology of Events & Updates
On November 29, 2022, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Arora under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This arrest was based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
According to the CBI’s allegations, Arora a close associate of Sisodia and they actively involved in managing and diverting the illicit funds collected from liquor licensees.