Delhi HC dismisses minister Satyendar Jain plea challenging transfer of money laundering case

New Delhi : The Delhi High Court on Saturday dismissed city minister Satyendar Jain's plea challenging a trial court's order to transfer the money laundering case against him to another court. Justice Yogesh said that the Principal District and Sessions Judge, while transferring the matter, has considered all the facts and there is no need to interfere in the decision. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating this money laundering case.

He said that considering certain circumstances, the ED had apprehensions that justice might not be done and it is of the view that such apprehension should be looked at from the point of view of the party. The court said, "The question here is not of the integrity of a judge but of apprehension in the mind of one of the parties."

The court also said that the apprehension raised by the agency has not been delayed and the facts show that the department has not merely kept such apprehension in its mind but has moved this court, hence it cannot be held to be unreasonable. The court, in its order, said, "The petition is, therefore, dismissed."

Jain had moved the high court challenging the September 23 order of Principal District and Sessions Judge Vinay Kumar Gupta. The trial court had transferred the money laundering case from Special Judge Geetanjali Goel to Special Judge Vikas Dhul. Special judge Geetanjali Goel was hearing his bail plea.

The district judge had given the verdict on a plea by the investigating agency to transfer the case. Raising certain issues, the probe agency had requested to refer the matter to another judge. The AAP leader argued that the ED cannot be allowed to "get its job done by intimidation" of a judge.

The ED had registered a case against Jain and two others on the basis of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR registered against the AAP leader in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Jain is accused of laundering money through four companies affiliated to him.