The Delhi High Court granted regular bail to liquor businessman Sameer Mahendru, owner of Indo Spirit, and AAP volunteer Chanpreet Singh in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case. Mahendru had been in custody since September 2022.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna approved the bail, stating that since Mahendru had been in custody for almost two years with no quick end to the trial in sight, he was entitled to bail under Article 21, which guarantees the right to liberty. The court noted that Mahendru had no prior criminal record and was unlikely to flee or tamper with evidence, as the case largely relied on documents.
Mahendru was granted bail on a bond of Rs 10 lakh, with two sureties of the same amount. The court imposed conditions, including that Mahendru must report to the investigating officer every Monday and Thursday, refrain from any criminal activity, and avoid contact with witnesses.
The case against Mahendru stems from a money laundering investigation. He was arrested on September 28, 2022, following an FIR filed by the CBI in August 2022. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a case soon after, alleging violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Although Mahendru had sought bail multiple times, his applications were previously rejected. The court, however, dismissed the ED’s argument that the accused were delaying the trial, stating that they were simply exercising their right to a fair trial and that the complexity of the case, with its large volume of evidence and witnesses, was the reason for the delay.
