The Supreme Court will hear on Friday an application challenging the Delhi High Court order, which granted 15-day interim bail to Magunta Raghava Reddy, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the Delhi Excise Policy scam case.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju listed the matter for urgent hearing before the Vacation Bench of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Rajesh Bindal.
The Enforcement Directorate had arrested Reddy in February 2023 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
He is the son of Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) MP Magunta Srinivasulu.
Appearing for ED, ASG Raju submitted that regular bail has been rejected by the trial court in the liquor policy scam case.
Another bail was sought in connection with the deteriorating health of the wife of another accused, which was also rejected and later withdrawn in the High Court, the law officer pointed out.
He argued that the High Court granted bail to Reddy on the grounds that his mother-in-law had slipped in the bathroom and was under observation in the hospital.
Terming the consideration as non-serious, the ASG said the High Court had given 15-day interim bail in a PMLA matter for the grandson.
Seeking a stay on interim bail, the ASG contended that no one was allowed to meet a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Besides, there were three siblings, he added.
However, the Apex Court said that it cannot stay an order without hearing the other side.
The law officer then suggested that the matter could be listed tomorrow. The top court of the country agreed to the same and listed the matter for hearing on June 9.
On May 8 this year, a Delhi court had dismissed Magunta’s interim bail plea.
The trial court had noted in the order that a genuine case was made out by the investigating agency showing active involvement of the applicant in the commission of the alleged offence of money laundering, which was a serious economic offence and hence, bail could not be granted.