The Supreme Court on Tuesday postponed the hearing of a bail plea filed by Vijay Nair, former communications in charge of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), in connection with a money laundering case tied to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
Justice Hrishikesh Roy’s Bench reluctantly adjourned the proceedings, agreeing to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) request for more time to submit a response.
Insights
The ED, the federal agency investigating the money laundering aspect of the case, requested a week to file its reply, which the court granted despite noting that the ED’s counsel had already been involved in the case for some time without submitting the necessary counter affidavit.
The hearing is likely to continue on 2 September, following the previous court order that directed the ED to respond by 27 August.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Nair, argued for his client’s bail, citing a Supreme Court judgment that previously granted bail to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a related excise policy case due to trial delays.
Singhvi emphasized that Nair, though granted bail in a separate corruption case, has been in custody for nearly two years due to the ongoing ED investigation, with the trial’s conclusion still uncertain.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma’s Delhi High Court Bench had earlier rejected Nair’s bail plea, citing the seriousness of the allegations.
The trial court also denied bail, asserting that substantial evidence pointed to Nair’s involvement in the scheme, particularly noting his participation in meetings with liquor business stakeholders, allegedly representing AAP and the Delhi government.
The trial court described Nair’s role as significant, despite his official position as a media and communications in-charge.
It highlighted that Nair lived in government accommodations meant for senior AAP officials and, on one occasion, even purportedly represented himself as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Excise Department.
As the case proceeds, the focus remains on whether Nair’s prolonged detention without trial merits bail under the circumstances.
Also Read: ED Files ECIR Against Former RG Kar Medical College Principal Sandip Ghosh
