Big Blow to AAP Leader Satyendar Jain, SC Dismisses Bail Plea

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the regular bail plea of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case.

A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal also directed the AAP Leader to surrender to jail authorities immediately. Presently, he is on interim bail on medical grounds.

On January 17, the bench reserved their verdict on Jain’s bail plea after considering the arguments put forth by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Jain, and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate.

On January 8, the apex court had extended the interim bail granted to Jain until further notice, citing medical grounds. The initial interim bail had been granted on May 26, 2023, and had been subsequently extended on multiple occasions.

Jain approached the top court to challenge the Delhi High Court’s order rejecting his bail plea in the money laundering case. On April 6, the Delhi High Court dismissed Jain’s bail plea, expressing concerns that he, being an influential figure, could tamper with evidence and might not adhere to the conditions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) case against Jain is rooted in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complaint, alleging that he acquired movable properties between February 14, 2015, and May 31, 2017, for which he could not provide satisfactory accounting. Jain was apprehended on May 30, 2022, under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is currently in judicial custody. The trial court had dismissed his bail petition on November 17, 2022.