The Supreme Court has granted an extension of interim medical bail to former minister Satyendar Jain until October 9 in a money laundering case. The Court emphasized that Jain must diligently cooperate with the trial and cautioned against using the pending bail proceedings as a means to delay the trial against him.
A bench comprising Justices AS Bopanna and Bela M Trivedi ruled, “It is made clear that the pendency of proceedings in this Court shall not be used as an excuse or a ruse to defer proceedings before the trial court for any reason.”
The bail application filed by Jain will be heard on October 9, marking the next date of the hearing.
Satyendar Jain was initially granted interim medical bail on May 26, which has been subsequently extended due to his recent spinal surgery on July 21.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), informed the Supreme Court that the accused had filed multiple applications seeking various reliefs, which, according to the ED, were aimed at “delaying the trial.”
Senior advocate N Hariharan, representing Satyendar Jain alongside advocate Vivek Jain, refuted these allegations, stating, “We have only taken dates on three occasions. The matter has been adjourned for reasons outside our control.”
While the bench chose not to intervene in this dispute, it emphasized the importance of a party’s conduct during the trial in the context of considering a bail application. The Court’s order specified that Jain should actively participate in the trial proceedings.
The bail matter was scheduled for a special hearing on Monday but was postponed due to senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represents Jain, facing health issues.
The ED presented a detailed chart to the Court, outlining a web of transactions linked to Jain in the money laundering case. Jain is accused of money laundering through four connected companies. The case initiated from a 2017 CBI investigation, and the ED had seized assets worth Rs. 4.81 crore in connection with the case last year.
Amidst reviewing the colorful charts prepared by the ED, the bench humorously remarked, “We thought the next year’s calendar was already being supplied to us.” The Court instructed the ED to digitally upload the chart for easy reference.
Satyendar Jain had approached the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order from April 6 that denied him bail. In his appeal to the top court, Jain cited various health issues, including depression, post-COVID complications, lumbar pain, and sleep apnea. He had suffered a fall in the jail bathroom in May, which led to doctors recommending surgery.
Sources By Agencies
