The Supreme Court today reserved its verdict on the regular bail plea of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case.
A bench comprising Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice Pankaj Mithal reserved its verdict after hearing the arguments of Satyendar Jain’s counsel and the Enforcement Directorate’s Counsel. The apex court listed the matter for hearing next Wednesday.
During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the nodal agency opposed the bail and stated that whenever the AAP leader wants to be out of the jail, he moves bail on medical grounds. The Additional Solicitor General also submitted before the top court, the concurrent findings of the trial court and high court and through other details related to the case.
Countering the Enforcement Directorate’s submission, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that Satyendar Jain has been incarcerated for a year. He further remarked that the investigation agency is trying to convert an income tax case into a money laundering matter. Urging the top court to grant bail, the Senior Advocate stated that the AAP leader is not a flight risk or threat to witness. He added that the matter is a matter of life and liberty.
Earlier, the Supreme Court granted AAP leader Satyendar Jain interim bail on May 26, 2023 on medical grounds and it has been extended from time to time. The AAP leader has approached the Supreme Court challenging the April 6, 2023 order of the Delhi High Court dismissing his regular bail application.
The Enforcement Directorate had arrested the AAP leader on May 30, 2022 on the charges of money laundering through four companies allegedly linked to him. The nodal agency arrested him on the basis of a CBI FIR registered against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Nonetheless, Satyendar Jain has denied all the allegations.