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.
Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Friday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case citing “delay in trial” and his “long incarceration”.
He walked out of the Tihar jail hours after the court verdict. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and senior AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, received him, who was in jail for around two years. Sisodia hugged him as his party colleague walked out of the jail.
#WATCH | AAP leader and Delhi’s former minister Satyendra Jain released from Tihar Jail after he was granted bail in the money laundering case pic.twitter.com/87QjbnjFQk— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2024
#WATCH | Delhi | After being released on bail, Former Delhi minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain says,”…Sanjay ji, Kejriwal ji, Manish ji and I are out now, we will do all the work and show now…” pic.twitter.com/j1P9WTLkBO— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2024
Hundreds of AAP workers gathered outside the Tihar Jail to celebrate the release of the former health minister.
The court, while delivering its verdict, pointed out the importance of individual liberty, especially when it comes to cases governed by stringent laws like the PMLA.
“Considering the delay in trial and long incarceration of 18 months, and the fact that trail will take long to start, let alone conclude, accused is favourably suited for the relief,” news agency PTI reported citing Special Judge Vishal Gogne.
He was granted the relief on a bail bond Rs 50,000 with two sureties of like amount. As part of the bail conditions, Jain is prohibited from contacting any witnesses or individuals related to the case and is barred from influencing the trial in any way.
After being granted bail, Jain said, “Satyamev Jayate (truth always prevails)”.
#WATCH | After being granted bail in money laundering case, former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain says, “Satyamev Jayate” pic.twitter.com/0rpOWQfBaq— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2024
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 was in judicial custody since then. The ED case stems from an FIR lodged against Jain by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
AAP Leaders Hail Court’s Verdict
Reacting to Jain’s bail, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said that PM Modi put him in jail for closing down mohalla clinics and stopping free treatment for the poor.
“Satyendra Jain also got bail after spending more than two years in jail. What was his fault? Several raids were conducted at his place. Not even a single penny was recovered. His only fault was that he built mohalla clinics and made all treatment free for all the people of Delhi. Modi ji put him in jail for closing down mohalla clinics and stopping free treatment for the poor. But God is with us. Today he too has been released. Welcome back Satyendra!” Kejriwal said in a post on X.
सत्येंद्र जैन को भी दो साल से ज़्यादा जेल में रहने के बाद बेल मिल गई। इनका कसूर क्या था? इनके यहाँ कई कई बार रेड हुई। एक पैसा भी नहीं मिला।इनका क़सूर सिर्फ़ इतना था कि इन्होंने मोहल्ला क्लिनिक बनाये और दिल्ली के सभी लोगों का पूरा इलाज मुफ्त कर दिया। मोहल्ला क्लिनिक बंद करने के… https://t.co/ofh5WVlxX0
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 18, 2024
Former Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia demanded that PM Modi and BJP should apologise to the people of Delhi for stalling developmental works.
“PM Modi and BJP should apologise to the people of Delhi. Because Satyendar Jain was sent to jail, the development work at Delhi hospitals and mohalla clinics had been stalled. BJP sent me, Satyendar Jain and Arvind Kejriwal to jail, but they couldn’t find a single penny from our place. They levelled false allegations against us and their ED jailed us based on those allegations,” he said.
VIDEO | “PM Modi and BJP should apologise to the people of Delhi. Because Satyendar Jain was sent to jail, the development work at Delhi hospitals and mohalla clinics had been stalled. BJP sent me, Satyendar Jain and Arvind Kejriwal to jail, but they couldn’t find a single penny… pic.twitter.com/zPvr1mSt24— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 18, 2024
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 said.
Poonam also hailed the verdict saying, “I thank the court and the judiciary. It was tough but we had faith because he had not done anything wrong in his entire life…We have been waiting for this for a long time…For him this is not politics he is a social worker. He wants to do something for the society.”
#WATCH | After former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain being granted bail in money laundering case, Satyendar Jain’s wife Poonam Jain says, “I thank the court and the judiciary. It was tough but we had faith because he had not done anything wrong in his entire life…We have been… pic.twitter.com/IFm8liNNrG— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2024
AAP’s ally, Congress, also reacted to Jain’s bail order and said that the court should answer how people are kept in jail for years like this. “He has been in jail for so many years. The court should also answer how people are kept in jail for years like this. I believe that the court should make sure that justice should also be seen as happening,” Party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said.
All senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders who were jailed on corruption charges, are out on bail. Last month, Kejriwal was granted bail by Supreme Court in a CBI case linked to the alleged liquor scam.
#WATCH | After Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court allows the bail plea of former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain in the money laundering case, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate says, “He has been in jail for so many years. The court should also answer how people are kept in jail for years… pic.twitter.com/Y47vQn78bV— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2024
Sisodia was granted bail by the top court in August after spending 17 months in Tihar jail in cases related to the Delhi excise policy case.
