Former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain has been granted bail
Former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain has been granted bail by a local court in a money laundering case. Mr Jain, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over two years ago, was released from the Tihar Jail on Friday evening and was welcomed by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, among others.
“We will continue our fight against injustice and work for the common man,” Mr Jain told a crowd of AAP leaders and workers outside Tihar Jail.
“Arvind Kejriwal does work for the common public. He used to say that the path of politics is difficult and you’ll have to face the consequences. Atishi ji you will also have to go to jail. In July 2013, I got a ticket from the AAP and they arrested me that time also. So do not be scared. Keep supporting the Aam Aadmi Party, we will continue to fight against injustice,” Mr Jain said.
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.
“Considering the delay in trial and long incarceration of 18 months, and the fact that the trail will take a long time to start, let alone conclude, the accused is favourably suited for the relief,” special judge Vishal Gogne said on Friday, according to news agency PTI.
The judge rejected the ED’s request to deny bail to Mr Jain, saying the relief granted under Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution will supersede stringent twin conditions of Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), when “liberty is the core value under consideration”.
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.
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