Delhi Court Allows ED's Pleas Seeking Transfer Of Satyendar Jain's Case, Delhi Minister To Approach HC
The case, formerly handled by Special Judge Geetanjali Goel, will now be heard by Special Judge Vikas Dhull.
The Principal District and Sessions Court of Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi on Friday granted the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) appeal to transfer Satyendar Jain's money laundering case to another judge, news agency ANI reported.
The case, formerly handled by Special Judge Geetanjali Goel, will now be heard by Special Judge Vikas Dhull.
Principal District & Sessions Court of Rouse Avenue Court allows ED petition seeking transfer of AAP leader Satyendra Jain to another judge, in money laundering case
— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2022
Now the case has been transferred to Spl Judge Vikas Dhull. Matter was earlier heard by Spl Judge Geetanjali Goel pic.twitter.com/xg8cMJZPXs
Following the decision, AAP leader Satyendar Jain said that he will to go to Delhi High Court against the decision of the Rouse Avenue Court.
AAP leader Satyendar Jain to go to Delhi High Court against the decision of the Rouse Avenue Court. https://t.co/CBiiLFDT7i
— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2022
After the completion of long arguments by both parties, Principal District and Sessions Judge Vinay Kumar Gupta reserved the order for transfer of the case on Thursday.
The Supreme Court instructed Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday to hear the Enforcement Directorate's request to relocate Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain's bail hearing on Thursday.
During the ED's arguments, ASG SV Raju claimed that there was an attempt to get medical bail by utilising fraudulent medical reports. The court made no decision. He has also served as a Minister in charge of the Delhi Prisons and has the ability to wield power, money, and influence.
On Saturday, the ED filed a motion with the Principal District and Sessions Judge of Rouse Avenue Court requesting that Satyendar Jain's money laundering proceedings be transferred to another Judge.
The ED petition has requested that Delhi Cabinet Minister Satyendar Jain's case be transferred to Special Judge Geetanjali Goel after raising some contentions regarding the bail arguments being considered by the court.
In recent proceedings, special judge Geetanjali Goel chastised the FBI for its investigation into the money laundering issue.
The Court was now hearing long arguments on the bail applications of Satyendar Jain and the other two co-accused in the case, Ankush Jain and Vaibhav Jain. The accused's bail hearing had reached its conclusion.
All three are now being held in judicial custody.
Satyendar Jain and two others were detained in a money laundering case based on a CBI FIR filed against the AAP politician in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, in which he was accused of laundering money through four firms purportedly related to him.
On September 16, the ED interrogated Jain inside the jail about the Excise policy issue.
The ED's appeal to interview Satyendar Jain in the excise policy case was granted by Special Judge Geetanjali Goel.
In connection with the money laundering case, the court recently took cognizance of the ED's Prosecution Complaint (Chargesheet) filed against Satyendar Jain, his wife, and eight individuals, including four businesses.
The ED said on June 6 that it confiscated Rs 2.85 crore in cash and 133 gold coins weighing 1.80 kg from Satyendra Jain's aides during a day-long operation throughout Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). Various damning documents and digital recordings were also recovered during these raids.
The ED launched the money-laundering inquiry after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) logged a First Information Report on August 24, 2017, under Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against Satyendar Jain, Poonam Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain, Sunil Kumar Jain, Vaibhav Jain, and Ankush Jain.
(With Inputs From ANI)