The Supreme Court hit a snag in the case of Vijay Nair, who is seeking bail in a money laundering case tied to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. On Tuesday, the Court decided to postpone the hearing after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) requested an extra week to respond to Nair’s bail plea.
Check for Amazing Discount on Electronic Gadgets*Justice Hrishikesh Roy, who led the Bench, expressed some frustration with the delay. The Bench, which also included Justice SVN Bhatti, noted that the ED’s counsel had had ample time to prepare a response but had yet to submit a counter affidavit. As a result, the case is now expected to be taken up again on September 2.
Check for Amazing Discount on Electronic Gadgets*Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked the ED to file its reply to Nair’s bail plea by August 27. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represents Nair, pointed out that the Supreme Court had previously granted bail to senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in a similar case due to delays in starting the trial. Singhvi argued that Nair, who is already out on bail in a corruption case, has been in custody for almost two years and will likely face an extended trial.
In July of last year, the Delhi High Court, led by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, had rejected Nair’s bail request. Nair had appealed this decision after a trial court also denied him bail. The trial court had found significant evidence against Nair and others involved, suggesting a well-organized scheme to commit offenses under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The court had noted that although Nair was only the media and communications head for AAP, he was actively involved in meetings with liquor business stakeholders. It was also revealed that Nair was living in accommodation provided to a senior AAP Minister and had even represented himself as an official in the Excise Department, despite no official involvement from the government or AAP in these meetings.
As the legal proceedings continue, the Supreme Court’s next steps will be closely watched, especially given the high-profile nature of the case and the ongoing scrutiny of the Delhi liquor policy.
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