The Supreme Court of India has extended the interim bail of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain until December 4, 2023, as the hearing of his bail plea in a money laundering case has been adjourned. The decision was made by a bench comprising Justices AS Bopanna and Bela M Trivedi, who are presiding over Jain’s special leave petition challenging the Delhi High Court’s April decision to deny him bail.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Jain, requested the court to extend the interim bail, citing Jain’s ongoing medical treatment following a spinal operation. The bench, acknowledging the request, granted the extension. Jain, arrested in May 2022 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was initially granted interim medical bail due to his health issues.
During the proceedings, Singhvi argued against the necessity of Jain’s arrest, emphasizing the need for a
“demonstrable, obvious, and palpable reason for making an arrest.”
He pointed out that Jain had spent almost a year in jail before being released on interim medical bail. Singhvi also refuted the ED’s claim that Jain was the beneficiary and controller of the ‘irregular’ transactions under investigation, stating that Jain was neither a director of the companies involved nor financially benefitted from the transactions.
Additional Solicitor-General SV Raju, representing the ED, had previously advocated for an independent examination by AIIMS and the cancellation of Jain’s interim bail. However, the court deferred Jain’s surrender and directed him to ‘diligently’ participate in the ongoing proceedings before the trial court.
The case against Jain, initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2017, involves allegations of laundering money through three companies – Paryas Infosolution, Akinchan Developers, and Mangalayatan Projects. The ED’s probe is based on the CBI complaint, alleging that Jain facilitated money laundering through Kolkata-based shell companies.
The Delhi High Court had earlier denied Jain’s bail, citing his influence and potential to tamper with evidence. However, the Supreme Court’s decision to extend his interim bail reflects the ongoing complexity of the case, with the final hearing now scheduled for December 4. The case, titled Satyendar Kumar Jain v. Directorate of Enforcement, continues to draw significant attention as it unfolds.
