Days after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet against Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain, his wife and others, a Delhi Court on Friday took congnisance of the matter and came heavily on the Central agency for giving photocopies in the prosecution complaint. The court also heard Jain via video-conferecing during the hearing held earlier in the day, news agency IANS reported.
Lashing out at the ED, the court also pointed out that Jain and others were wrongly linked in the case and observed that that the AAP leader was neither the Director nor associated with other accused companies.
“Merely by writing the name of Satyendar Jain, the company will not become theirs! Is this the first time that you are filing a charge sheet?” the Court said during the hearing. The court has also asked all the accused to appear on August 6.
The court also noted that there is “prima facie sufficient evidence” against Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in the Enforcement Directorate chargesheet which alleged he and his associates had “utilised” hawala funds to purchase agricultural lands in and around the national capital.
Earlier this week, the probe agency filed a chargesheet in the case and named Satyendar Jain, his wife Poonam Jain and associates Ajit Prasad Jain, Sunil Kumar Jain, Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain, and companies Akinchan Developers Pvt. Ltd, Paryas Infosolutions Pvt Ltd, Manglayatan Developers Pvt. Ltd and J J Ideal Estate Pvt. Ltd.
“Report has been received from Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital, however, it has been submitted by the Ld. SPP for ED that vide order dated July 28, passed by Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, the trial court has been directed not to consider the said report till the next date of hearing before the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi while considering the application for interim bail filed on behalf of applicant/accused Satyendar Kumar Jain,” the Delhi Court remarked.
“Looking to the material on record, it can be said that there is prima facie sufficient incriminating evidence about the involvement of the accused. Thus, cognizance of the offence under Section 3 of PMLA punishable under Section 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 is taken,” the judge said, PTI reported.
Jain, his wife and others have been booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Jain, 57, who is a minister in Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Cabinet, was arrested by the ED on May 30 and is currently admitted to the city government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) hospital, as he complained of medical issues.
The ED had also arrested Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain, and they, too, are in judicial custody along with the minister. During today’s hearing, the court also said that Jain’s bail application will be heard for consideration on August 20.
ED has conducted at least two rounds of raids against the minister’s family and associates. It had claimed to have seized “unexplained” cash worth Rs 2.85 crore and 133 gold coins after the first round of raids conducted on June 6.
(With inputs from agencies)