The Supreme Court of India, in a recent hearing, extended the interim bail of Satyendar Kumar Jain, the former Delhi minister, until December 11 in a case concerning allegations of money laundering. This extension follows Jain’s challenge to the Delhi High Court’s April 6 decision, which had dismissed his bail plea in the case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Initially, the apex court had granted Jain interim bail for six weeks on medical grounds on May 26, and this relief was later extended. The matter was presented before a bench comprising Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma. During the proceedings, Jain’s counsel pointed out that a special bench, including Justice A S Bopanna and Justice Trivedi, had previously heard the arguments in this matter. However, due to Justice Bopanna’s absence on Monday, the counsel requested a rescheduling of the hearing.
Justice Trivedi, addressing the duration of the interim order, observed,
“We have to see whether to continue the interim order because it can’t be for such a long time.”
Following this, Jain’s counsel asked for the matter to be listed for the next week. The bench then decided to adjourn the case until December 11, affirming, “Interim order to continue.”
The ED has accused Jain of repeatedly seeking adjournments in the trial court, claiming that he had taken as many as 16 dates from the court. Jain was arrested by the ED on May 30 last year, following a CBI FIR lodged against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The FIR accuses him of laundering money through four companies allegedly linked to him.
In its decision on May 26, the Supreme Court had highlighted the right of a citizen to receive treatment of their choice in a private hospital at their own expense. Jain, who has denied all allegations against him, was granted regular bail by the trial court on September 6, 2019, in the CBI-registered case.
This latest development in Jain’s legal journey underscores the ongoing legal and political challenges faced by the AAP leader, marking a significant moment in the broader narrative of political accountability and legal proceedings in India.
