Former Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain gets bail after 2 years

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) more than two years ago.

The Supreme Court granted him bail in May 2023 on medical grounds. He returned to Delhi’s Tihar Jail after the Supreme Court rejected his regular bail plea in March this year.

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

Mr. Jain is the third AAP leader to be granted bail in various cases recently.

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 the development of a new liquor policy in the national capital.

AAP leaders have alleged that the Center has used the investigating agencies against them for political strikes ahead of the election battles. The Center has denied the allegations at every turn.

The ED case against Mr Jain was based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2017 regarding alleged money laundering through companies linked to him.

“Satyamev Jayate. Long live the Constitution… Satyendar Jain was kept in jail for so long by making false and baseless allegations. His house was ransacked four times. Nothing was found but 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,” said Mr Kejriwal.

Mr Jain’s lawyer told the court there would be no point in his continuing in custody. The ED had opposed his bail plea on suspicion that the former minister might influence witnesses.