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The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi today sent Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi minister Satyendar Jain to Judicial custody  for 14 days. Jain has been accused of committing money laundering offences.

Jain was arrested on May 30. The Enforcement Directorate had sought 14 days custody of Jain from the Trial Court in the matter. Special CBI Judge Geetanjali Goel had then remanded Jain to ED's custody till June 9.

The money laundering case is based upon an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the minister and other individuals in the year 2017, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, wherein it was alleged that during the period between February 2015 to May 2017, the minister had acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The CBI had then filed a chargesheet in December 2018 against Jain.

Upon Jain’s arrest the ED had filed an appeal against the order of the Special Judge in the last paragraph of the remand order stating that during the time of interrogation, one Advocate shall be allowed to remain present at a safe distance wherefrom he can see Jain but not hear him.

ASG SV Raju argued before the Court that the impugned condition was contrary to the 1992 Supreme Court judgment in a case titled Poolpandi v. Superintendent, Central Excise and several other judgments passed by Courts from time to time. 

Raju argued that although Jain has been arrested, he is not an accused and therefore, is not entitled to other rights which are available to accused persons. He added that since an audio-video recording of the interrogation was being done, no prejudice was being caused to Jain in any manner.

He also submitted that there was no allegation to the effect that he was being threatened or pressurized in the interrogation process and his medical check-up was also being done twice a day

On the other hand, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Jain called the case extraordinary while submitting that the prosecution knew that the law was "100 percent against them.”

The Delhi High Court has stayed the portion of the order allowing Jain’s lawyer to be present during interrogation.

According to sources, Jain’s bail plea is likely to be heard on June 14 by the court.