Supreme Court Grants Bail to Satyendar Jain on Health Grounds, Sets Conditions
Satyendar Jain, the former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, has been granted interim bail for six weeks by the Supreme Court on medical grounds. Jain, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in May 2022 in connection with a money laundering case, was admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP) on Thursday after he complained of breathing difficulties. He was put on oxygen support and shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for treatment.
The Money Laundering Case Against Jain
Jain was accused of allegedly laundering money through shell companies and buying land with illegal funds. The ED had registered a case against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 2017, based on a CBI FIR. The ED had alleged that Jain had laundered Rs 4.63 crore through Prayas Info Solutions Pvt Ltd, Akinchan Developers Pvt Ltd and Managalyatan Projects Pvt Ltd and used the money to buy agricultural land worth Rs 27.69 crore in Delhi’s Karala village.
Jain had denied the charges and claimed that he was being targeted for his political affiliation. He had also said that he had resigned from the directorship of the three companies before becoming a minister and had no role in their transactions. He had moved the Supreme Court seeking bail after the Delhi High Court had dismissed his plea in April 2023.
The Supreme Court’s Order
The Supreme Court’s vacation bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha granted Jain interim bail on Friday after considering his medical condition and the fact that he had been in jail for more than a year. The court also imposed certain conditions on Jain while granting him bail. He has been directed not to speak to the media or leave Delhi without the court’s permission. He has also been asked to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the ED whenever required.
The court also observed that Jain’s case was not a simple one and involved serious allegations of money laundering. The court said that it would examine the merits of his bail plea after six weeks and decide whether to extend it or not.
The bail order has come as a relief for Jain and his family, who have been hoping for his release for a long time. Jain’s lawyer had argued that he was suffering from various ailments and needed proper medical attention. He had also submitted that Jain was not a flight risk and had cooperated with the investigation so far.
Jain’s bail order has also been welcomed by his party colleagues and supporters, who have maintained that he was innocent and framed in a false case. They have accused the central government of misusing its agencies to harass and intimidate AAP leaders and hamper their work in Delhi.
