ED Moves High Court Challenging Trial Court Condition Permitting Satyendra Jain's Counsel To Remain Present During Interrogation In Money Laundering Case

The Enforcement Directorate has moved the Delhi High Court challenging a condition imposed by a trial Court here while remanding city's Health Minister Satyendra Jain to the agency's custody till June 9, in connection with a money laundering case.

The matter was mentioned before a a division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Datta for urgent listing which was accordingly allowed for tomorrow.

The ED had challenged the condition imposed by the Special Judge in the last paragraph of the remand order stating that during the time of interrogation, one Advocate shall be allowed to remain present at a safe distance where from he can see Jain but not hear him.

Jain was arrested on May 30 by the agency. The Enforcement Directorate had then sought 14 days custody of Jain from the Trial Court in the matter. Special CBI Judge Geetanjali Goel had then remanded Jain to ED's custody till June 9.

The agency had last month 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."