Money Laundering Case: SC Dismisses Bail Plea of Suspended IAS Officer

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by suspended Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Puja Singhal seeking bail in a money laundering case, stating it is an “extraordinary case.”

The Bench

A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta declined to interfere with the Jharkhand High Court’s decision denying her bail.

The apex court acknowledged that 12 out of 17 prosecution witnesses have been examined by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and expressed hope for a swift conclusion to the trial.

“This is not a routine matter but an extraordinary one. There seems to be something seriously amiss in this case. We are not inclined to entertain the present petition. We trust that the trial will be expedited,” the bench remarked. However, the bench granted Singhal the liberty to renew her bail plea if the trial is prolonged or if there are any changes in circumstances.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, opposed the bail plea, highlighting that Singhal spent a significant portion of her custody period in a Ranchi hospital due to health reasons.

Interim Bail

On February 10, 2023, the Supreme Court had granted Singhal interim bail for two months to attend to her ailing daughter. Singhal has been in custody since May 11, 2022, following raids conducted at properties associated with her in connection with the money laundering case, which revolves around alleged corruption in the implementation of MGNREGA, the government’s rural employment scheme.

Accusations

The central probe agency has accused Singhal, a former state mines department secretary, of money laundering and reported seizing over Rs 36 crore cash linked to purported illegal mining activities in two separate investigations.

Alongside the 2000 batch IAS officer, her businessman husband, a chartered accountant associated with the couple, and others were also subject to ED raids as part of the money laundering probe. Singhal was suspended from her duties following her arrest.

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