Big relief for Satyendar Jain: SC grants interim bail to former Delhi minister on health grounds

On Thursday, Satyendar Jain collapsed in the prison washroom and the urgent bail plea was moved before the apex court on health grounds.

New Delhi: In a major relief to jailed AAP leader Satyendar Jain, the Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to the former Delhi Minister on health grounds. Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case. He was admitted to an ICU at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital, on Thursday. His health condition deteriorated over time after he collapsed in the prison washroom due to dizziness.

Satyendar was arrested by the ED on May 30 last year based on an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and on charges of laundering money through four companies allegedly linked to him. The CBI's FIR was registered under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act, 2017.

It is pertinent to note that top court agreed to list the matter for hearing on Friday after senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi on Monday, appearing for Jain, sought an urgent hearing of the plea on health grounds. On May 18, the top court sought the response of the ED on Jain's plea. Singhvi had then mentioned before the court that Jain has lost 35 kg while in prison and is suffering from several ailments.

On April 6, the Delhi High Court had dismissed Jain's bail plea since witnesses' had claimed that he was the conceptualiser, initiator and fund provider in the alleged crime. The high court noted that Jain may tamper with evidence if released. Earlier in 2022, the trial court took the ED's case against Satyendar Jain, his wife and eight others, on file. The court also examined the four firms that were allegedly linked to him in connection with the money laundering case.

On Nov. 17 last year, it had dismissed the bail pleas of Jain and two others, Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain in the case. The court said that prima facie it seems that Jain was involved in concealing the proceeds of crime while the other two had 'knowingly' assisted Satyendar Jain in the misdeed.