Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi cabinet minister Satyendar Jain was granted bail on Friday in a money laundering case. The court granted bail, after two years, citing "delay in trial" and his "long incarceration".
Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 30, 2022, on the charge of laundering money through four companies allegedly linked to him.
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"Considering the delay in trial and long incarceration of 18 months, and the fact that the trial will take long to start, let alone conclude, the accused is favourably suited for the relief," said Special Judge Vishal Gogne.
The judge granted the relief on a bail bond of Rs 50,000 with two sureties of like amount.
ED case stems from an FIR lodged against Jain by the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
"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," said AAP in a post on X.
Meanwhile, AAP chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Jain got bail after spending more than two years in jail. "What was his fault?" he asked.
Kejriwal was granted bail this month, while his former deputy Manish Sisodia was granted bail in August, both were accused of money laundering in framing a new Delhi liquor policy.
The AAP and the Congress leaders had alleged that the Centre is using investigative agencies against them keeping them ahead of the electoral battles. While the Centre has refuted the allegations.
The ED had opposed his bail application saying that he may influence witnesses.