New Delhi:

Former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain has been granted bail by a local court in a money laundering case. Mr Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over two years ago.

The Supreme Court had granted him interim bail in May 2023 on medical grounds. He returned to Delhi’s Tihar jail after the Supreme Court denied his request for regular bail in March this year.

“Considering the delay in trial and long incarceration of 18 months, and the fact that the trail will take a long time to start, let alone conclude, the accused is favourably suited for the relief,” special judge Vishal Gogne said, according to news agency PTI.

Mr Jain is the third AAP leader who has been granted bail in different cases in recent times.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail last month, while his former deputy Manish Sisodia was granted bail in August; both were accused of money laundering in framing a new liquor policy for the national capital.

The AAP leaders have been alleging that the Centre used the investigative agencies against them for political hit jobs ahead of electoral battles. The Centre has refuted the allegations at every turn.

The ED case against Mr Jain is based on a first information report (FIR) filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2017 over alleged money laundering using companies linked to him.

“Satyamev Jayate. Long live the Constitution… Satyendar Jain was kept in jail for such a long time by making false and baseless allegations. His house was raided four times. Nothing was found, yet he was kept in jail… Thanks to the judiciary for supporting truth and justice,” Mr Sisodia said in a post on X today.

“Welcome back Satyendar,” Mr Kejriwal said.

Mr Jain’s lawyer told the court no purpose would be served by keeping him in custody further. The ED opposed his bail application on the suspicion that the former minister may influence witnesses.

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Monday extended interim bail granted to senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on medical grounds till October 18 in an alleged money laundering case. The matter was listed before a bench of Justice AS Bopanna and Bela M Trivedi, who listed the matter for further hearing on October 18.

“List the matter on October 18 at 3 pm as the matter cannot be taken up for consideration today,” the court said.

“In the meanwhile, the interim bail, granted earlier, is extended till the next date of hearing i.e. October 18, 2023,” the court added.

Mr Jain has undergone surgery on July 21. The interim bail given to Mr Jain on medical grounds has been extended from time to time.

On May 26, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Satyendar Jain for six weeks in the money laundering case but imposed various conditions including that he should not talk to the media or leave Delhi without permission.

The Supreme Court had also given Mr Jain to choose any hospital of his choice for his medical treatment. The Supreme Court had made it clear that interim bail is considered in medical conditions.

The AAP leader’s lawyer had told the Supreme Court that he had lost 35 kg and turned into a skeleton due to this.

Satyendar Jain has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court order dismissing his bail plea in the money laundering case against him.

On April 6, the Delhi High Court dismissed the bail plea of Mr Jain, stating that the applicant is an influential person and has the potential of tampering with evidence.

The HC had kept the order reserved on March 21 after the conclusion of the submissions made by the defence and prosecution sides after multiple hearings. During arguments in the High Court, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju appeared for the Enforcement Directorate contented that money laundering is crystal clear against Mr Jain and other co-accused.

In his bail plea, Mr Jain stated, “I appeared before ED on 7 occasions. I have cooperated and participated in the investigation.”

On November 17, 2022, the trial court dismissed the bail petition of Satyendar Jain. He was arrested on May 30, 2022, under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Enforcement Directorate and is presently in Judicial Custody in the case.

The ED case is based on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complaint registered on the allegation that Satyender Jain had acquired movable properties in the name of various persons from February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017, which he could not satisfactorily account for.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)