‘Satyamev Jayate’: Satyendar Jain, AAP as court grants him bail
New Delhi, Oct 17: A Delhi court on Friday granted bail to AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case, citing “delay in trial” and his “long incarceration”.
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 is currently in judicial custody.
“Considering the delay in trial and a long incarceration of 18 months, and the fact that the trial will take long to start, let alone conclude, accused is favourably suited for the relief,” held Special Judge Vishal Gogne.
The judge, who also issued a release warrant for Jain, granted the relief on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety of like amount.
The moment judge pronounced the order, Jain’s wife Poonam and daughter Shreya, who were present in the courtroom, broke down.
Shreya spoke to mediapersons 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 told the court.
Poonam shared that she had kept her hopes alive. “It was a tough time for us, but I always had faith because he has never done any wrong in his life. We have waited for very long,” she said.
The ED case stems from an FIR lodged against Jain by the CBI in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
“Satyamev Jayate” was a common refrain among the Aam Aadmi Party ministers and leaders as they hailed the bail granted by a court here to its senior member Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case, and dubbed the decision a defeat of another BJP “conspiracy”.
As he came out of the courtroom here after the bail hearing, Jain, a former health minister in the AAP government, said “Satyamev Jayate (truth only triumphs)”.
The Rouse Avenue court granted the bail to Jain, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in May 2022, citing “delay in trial” and his “long incarceration”.
The AAP said in a post on X, “Satyamev Jayate. Another conspiracy of BJP failed as Satyendra 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 court granted the relief to Jain on a bail bond Rs 50,000 with two sureties of like amount.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said 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 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 stooped, thus preventing free treatment for the poor. But God is with us,” he posted on X. (PTI)