Former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain has been granted bail by the Delhi High Court in a money laundering case. The court has granted him conditional bail, restricting him from leaving the country.
The court noted that Jain has already served 18 months in jail. Granting the bail, the High Court said Jain's plea is accepted, but he must furnish a personal bond of ₹50,000.
While granting bail, the court referred to Jain's prolonged detention and cited the Supreme Court's ruling in Manish Sisodia’s case, which emphasized the right to a speedy trial as a fundamental right.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is handling the case, strongly opposed Satyendar Jain's bail plea.
However, the court noted that Jain has already spent considerable time in custody, and with no trial expected to begin in the near future, there's no question of its completion anytime soon.
The High Court further stated that, based on the criteria set in the Manish Sisodia case, Satyendar Jain is also entitled to bail.
The court has granted Satyendar Jain bail on a personal bond of ₹50,000. As part of the bail conditions, Jain will not be allowed to contact any witness or individual related to the case. He is also prohibited from influencing the trial in any way.
Additionally, the AAP leader will be barred from traveling outside India without prior permission from the court.
Satyendar Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on May 30, 2022, for allegedly being involved in money laundering through four companies linked to him.
Notably, after Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh, Satyendar Jain is the fourth leader of the Aam Aadmi Party to be granted bail in various money laundering cases.