BREAKING| Delhi Court Denies Bail To GNCTD Minister Satyendar Jain In PMLA Case

A Delhi Court on Saturday denied bail to Satyendar Jain, a cabinet minister of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, in connection with a money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate.

Special Judge Geetanjali Goel dismissed the bail plea moved by Jain after reserving orders on the same earlier this week.

In the 81 pages order, the Judge observed that as the matter is still at the stage of investigation and since Jain enjoys an influential position, it could not be ruled out that he could influence the witnesses.

On the argument that Jain was suffering from sleep apnea, the Court was of the view thus:

"…when no specific ground has been taken in the bail application regarding the medical condition of the accused and no medical documents have been produced to show the medical history of the accused or to show the extent of the medical condition of the accused (except the medical examination papers which were produced by ED at the time of remand), only on the ground that the accused suffers from sleep apnea, he cannot be enlarged on bail, by virtue of the first proviso to Section 45(1) of PMLA."

The Court thus concluded that the bail application did not pass muster of the triple test for grant of bail. Accordingly the same was dismissed.

Jain was sent to judicial custody earlier this month on expiry of his 5 days ED custody, which was extended on June 9. Jain was earlier remanded to 9 days of custody.

Jain was arrested last month by the agency. The Enforcement Directorate had then sought 14 days custody of Jain in the matter.

In a related news, the Delhi High Court has stayed the Trial Court direction permitting Satyendar Jain's counsel to remain present during his interrogation in the matter.

The agency had attached properties worth Rs. 4.81 crore belonging to five companies and others in connection with an alleged disproportionate assets case against Jain and others.

These assets reportedly were in the name of Akinchan Developers, Indo Metalimpex, Paryas Infosolutions, Mangalayatan Projects and J.J. Ideal Estate etc.

The money laundering case is based upon an FIR registered by the CBI against the minister and other individuals in the year 2017, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, wherein it was alleged that during the period of February 2015 to May 2017, the minister had acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The CBI had then filed a chargesheet in December 2018 against Jain.

In an earlier statement, the ED had reportedly said thus:

"During the period 2015-16, when Satyendar Kumar Jain was a public servant, the above mentioned companies beneficially owned and controlled by him received accommodation entries to the tune of Rs.4.81 crore from shell companies against cash transferred to Kolkata-based entry operators through 'hawala' route," the ED had earlier said in a statement.