Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Friday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former health minister Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case after over two years in jail citing “delay in trial” and his “long incarceration.”
The court, while delivering its verdict, pointed out the importance of individual liberty, especially when it comes to cases governed by stringent laws like the PMLA. “Considering the delay in trial and long incarceration of 18 months, and the fact that trial will take long to start, let alone conclude, accused is favourably suited for the relief,” Special Judge Vishal Gogne said granting him bail.
Mr Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on May 30, 2022, on the charge of laundering money through four companies allegedly linked to him. He was in judicial custody. The Supreme Court had granted him interim bail in May 2023 on medical grounds. He returned to Delhi’s Tihar jail after the Supreme Court denied his request for regular bail in March this year.
Mr Jain’s counsel had told the court that no purpose would be served by keeping him in further custody. The judge granted the relief on a bail bond Rs 50,000 with two sureties of like amount. The ED had opposed the application, saying that if released, Mr Jain may influence the witnesses or flee from justice.
The ED case stems from an FIR lodged against Mr Jain by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Mr Jain is the third AAP leader who has been granted bail in different cases in recent times. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail last month, while his former deputy Manish Sisodia was granted bail in August; both were accused of money laundering in framing a new liquor policy for the national capital. The AAP leaders have been alleging that the Centre used the investigative agencies against them for political hit jobs ahead of electoral battles. The Centre has refuted the allegations at every turn.
The AAP hailed the Delhi court granting bail to its senior leader Satyendar Jain describing the decision as a victory of truth and the defeat of another BJP “conspiracy.” “Satyameva Jayate. Another conspiracy of BJP failed as Satyendar Jain ji, who brought about health revolution in Delhi by building magnificent Mohalla Clinics, got bail from the court. The real face of BJP has been exposed again now in front of the entire country,” the AAP said in a post on X.
The AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said Mr Jain got bail after spending more than two years in jail. “What was his fault?” he asked. The former Chief Minister said multiple raids were conducted at Mr Jain’s place but not a single penny was recovered. “His only fault was that he built Mohalla Clinics and made health services free for the people of Delhi. Modi ji put him in jail so that Mohalla Clinics could be stopped, thus preventing free treatment for the poor. But God is with us,” he posted on X. “Welcome back Satyendar!” he wrote.
“Satyameva Jayate. Long live the Constitution… Satyendar Jain was kept in jail for such a long time by making false and baseless allegations. His house was raided four times. Nothing was found, yet he was kept in jail… Thanks to the judiciary for supporting truth and justice,” Mr Sisodia said in a post on X.
Mr Sisodia demanded that PM Modi and BJP apologise to the people of Delhi for stalling developmental works. “PM Modi and BJP should apologise to the people of Delhi. Because Satyendar Jain was sent to jail, the development work at Delhi hospitals and mohalla clinics had been stalled. BJP sent me, Satyendar Jain and Arvind Kejriwal to jail, but they couldn’t find a single penny from our place. They levelled false allegations against us and their ED jailed us based on those allegations,” he said.
The moment judge pronounced the order, Jain’s wife Poonam and daughter Shreya, who were present in the courtroom, broke down. Shreya spoke to media persons later and said Diwali had arrived early for the family. “We always knew this would happen and it was only a matter of time. We are happy that the court gave us justice. Diwali is approaching and we think it has come early for us this year, and we are happy and enthusiastic for him,” she said.
Poonam also hailed the verdict saying, “I thank the court and the judiciary. It was tough but we had faith because he had not done anything wrong in his entire life…We have been waiting for this for a long time…For him this is not politics he is a social worker. He wants to do something for the society.”
AAP’s ally, Congress, also reacted to Jain’s bail order and said the court should answer how people are kept in jail for years like this. “He has been in jail for so many years. The court should also answer how people are kept in jail for years like this. I believe that the court should make sure that justice should also be seen as happening,” party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said.