Congress MLA and former Chhattisgarh excise minister Kawasi Lakhma was released from Raipur Central Jail a day after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in cases linked to the alleged liquor ‘scam’. Arrested by the ED and ACB/EOW, Lakhma said he has full faith in the judiciary and will continue to fight for tribal and farmers’ rights.
Delhi High Court observed it may lack jurisdiction to entertain petitions by two Anil Ambani group firms challenging Enforcement Directorate attachments in a laundering case. Justice Purushaindra Kaurav indicated proceedings should be filed in Mumbai, where companies are registered.
The Karnataka High Court sought a detailed ED response to a partnership firm’s plea challenging search, seizure and freezing under PMLA. The case questions ED powers, Section 17 ‘reason to believe’, and requirement of a live predicate offence existence.
The Delhi High Court has scheduled May 8 to hear the Enforcement Directorate’s plea challenging bail granted to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy-linked money laundering case. The court has also directed that the trial court records be called for review before the hearing.
Delhi High Court granted bail to influencer Sandeepa Virk, observing that continuing to detain her would be unfair given the delay in initiating proceedings. The court noted that prolonged incarceration without timely action cannot be justified in a money laundering case.
The Delhi High Court held that courts cannot issue non-bailable warrants merely for ignoring Enforcement Directorate summons. NBWs can be issued only if conditions under Section 73 CrPC are strictly met.
A Delhi court has dismissed former Bihar CM Rabri Devi’s request to transfer CBI and ED cases linked to the IRCTC hotel tender and land-for-jobs scam. The court held that the trials will continue before the same judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.
The Supreme Court has adjourned till January the plea filed by Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, challenging his arrest in the alleged liquor scam. The Court said the matter cannot be heard piecemeal and will take it up for detailed hearing in the first week of January.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed the Delhi court’s refusal to take cognisance of the ED chargesheet in the National Herald case, calling it a blow to the Modi government’s alleged political conspiracy. He said the verdict proves that “victory of truth is certain” and reaffirmed Congress’s fight to protect democracy and the Constitution.
The Supreme Court has relaxed V. Senthil Balaji’s strict bail condition, saying he must now appear only when officially summoned. The court noted his flawless compliance for 1.5 years and called the previous requirement unnecessarily burdensome.
