The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan's plea seeking bail in a fresh money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The court instead transferred his petition to the Allahabad High Court and requested an early hearing, directing it to consider interim relief on November 16.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court to list Khan's petition before a division bench on November 16. The Supreme Court also requested that an interim order on his bail plea be passed on the same day.
Appearing for the 78-year-old politician, senior advocate Kapil Sibal questioned the timing of the ED's action and alleged that the arrest was motivated. He argued that Khan was taken into custody just when he was about to be released from jail.
"They just want me to be inside during the election," Sibal submitted while presenting Khan's case before the top court.
The latest development is linked to a money laundering investigation concerning the Jauhar Trust, associated with Azam Khan. The Enforcement Directorate arrested the senior Samajwadi Party leader on October 31, shortly after he and his son, Abdullah Azam Khan, were released from Rampur jail on bail in an alleged dual PAN card case.
On November 1, Khan was produced before a special court in Ghaziabad in connection with the money laundering proceedings. His legal team subsequently approached the Supreme Court, seeking relief against his arrest and requesting bail.
However, the top court chose not to examine the bail plea directly and referred the matter to the Allahabad High Court for consideration. By fixing November 16 as the hearing date and asking for an interim order on the same day, the Supreme Court has ensured that Khan's request for immediate relief will be considered by the high court.
The development comes as a setback for the veteran politician, who has been facing multiple legal proceedings. His arrest in the latest case came within days of his release on bail in another matter.
The Allahabad High Court will now examine the arguments presented by Khan's legal team and the Enforcement Directorate before deciding whether he should receive interim relief.
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