Delhi HC issues notices to ED on Satyendar Jain’s bail plea, Hearing on 20 December

The Delhi high court on Thursday issued notice to Enforcement Directorate (ED) on petition filed by Jailed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Satyendar Jain challenging a trial court’s order denying him bail in a money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma has directed the ED to file its response within two weeks and listed the case for further hearing on December 20.

Satyendar Jain in his plea said that “he was not in a position to influence witnesses or tamper with evidence and there was no risk in granting relief in the case registered by the ED on September 30, 2017 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

In his plea, the AAP leader claimed that since he was not in possession of any such money, the offense under PMLA was not made out. The petition claimed that the Special Judge and the ED had drawn an incorrect inference on the basis of only a few entries, which could not constitute an offense under the PMLA.

Jain has challenged the trial court’s November 17 order rejecting his bail plea on the ground that he was prima facie involved in concealment of proceeds of crime.