The Supreme Court today granted bail to former Bhushan Steel MD Neeraj Singal in a Rs 46,000 crore money laundering case. Justices Khanna and Kumar acknowledged the gravity of the allegations but cited his prolonged custody and stalled trial for bail. Singhvi and Sibal represented Singal. Singal was granted bail with conditions, including surrendering his passport.
Today, On 27th August, The Supreme Court dismissed the Enforcement Directorate’s challenge to the stay of summonses issued to Tamil Nadu district collectors in an illegal sand mining case. The court admonished the collectors for failing to appear before the ED and directed them to comply with the summonses. Approximately 2,300 FIRs are involved, with 36 documents still undownloadable.
The Supreme Court today has postponed Abbas Ansari’s bail plea hearing regarding an alleged unauthorized meeting with his wife at Chitrakoot jail. The court has given the Uttar Pradesh Government one week to respond, rescheduling the case for September. Ansari challenges denial of bail and his involvement in money laundering cases. Seven individuals, including Ansari’s wife, were arrested.
Today, On 22nd August, Members of the SCBA Executive Committee objected to a resolution signed by Kapil Sibal regarding the RG Kar Hospital incident, claiming it was not presented for consideration. The resolution expressed concern over prevailing malaise and hoped to prevent similar incidents across the country. The Supreme Court also criticized the handling of the case by the West Bengal police.
Today, On 20th August, The Supreme Court granted Teesta Setalvad permission to travel abroad for a conference, provided she submits a Rs. 10 lakh surety. Setalvad is on bail for a case related to the Gujarat riots. The court ordered her to surrender her passport after the conference. The decision came after her counsel’s plea for relaxation.
The Supreme Court emphasized the need for reforms in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and proposed to establish a committee for this purpose. It sought input from SCBA members and highlighted the importance of evolving rules to address contemporary challenges, aiming to strengthen the association’s role and uphold the integrity of the judiciary.
The Tamil Nadu Government today has contested a Madras High Court decision restraining the police from summoning BJP leader Kesava Vinayagan in a cash seizure case. The Supreme Court has asked for Vinayagan’s response. The case involves the seizure of Rs 3.99 crore from train passengers, one of whom has BJP affiliations. The case is scheduled for September 20.
Today, On 15th July, The Supreme Court requested a response from Payal Abdullah regarding Omar Abdullah’s divorce plea. Omar’s lawyer argued that the marriage was “dead” as they had been living separately for 15 years and requested the court to dissolve the marriage. The High Court had earlier denied the divorce, citing unsubstantiated cruelty allegations.
Today, On 12th June, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the Jharkhand High Court that former Chief Minister Hemant Soren is allegedly involved in illegal land acquisition. Soren’s bail plea related to a money-laundering case was rejected. The ED claims to have evidence showing manipulation of land records in favour of Soren. His counsel argues that the case is politically motivated.
The outgoing President of the Supreme Court Bar Association raised concerns about political parties’ influence on bar association elections, urging for impartiality to uphold legal ethics. He congratulated the new President but criticized political involvement in the elections. He also emphasized the need to amend voting rights and secure insurance for junior lawyers, calling for support from major corporations.
