NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenging the bail granted to Amit Katyal, a businessman and close aide of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, in connection with a money laundering case tied to the alleged land-for-jobs scam in Indian Railways.
A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal said it was not inclined to interfere with the Delhi High Court's decision to release Katyal on bail.
"No big fish. Main persons have not been arrested. Why go on after only small flies? Are you afraid of going after them? Why have you not arrested 11 other accused?" the bench remarked, questioning the ED’s selective action.
Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the ED, argued that the high court’s bail order was flawed and should be overturned.
The Delhi high court, on 17 September last year, granted bail to Katyal, criticising what it described as a “pick and choose” approach by the ED. The court observed that despite Katyal joining the investigation, he was detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport without proper justification, just before boarding a flight to Ranchi.
The court noted that no other accused had been arrested in the case, even though they were alleged to be the main beneficiaries. It said Katyal's role appeared to be less significant, and given that he was cooperating with the probe and posed no flight risk, he was entitled to bail.
Katyal, arrested by the ED on 10 November 2023 under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh and two sureties of the same amount.
The ED, however, maintained that Katyal had played an active role in assisting Lalu Yadav and his family in handling proceeds from alleged corrupt practices during Yadav’s time as railway minister. Katyal was also the director of A K Infosystems Private Limited, which the ED claimed acquired land from job seekers on Yadav’s behalf.
The case involves alleged irregularities in Group D recruitments in the West Central Zone of Indian Railways, based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, between 2004 and 2009. It is alleged that land parcels were given or transferred by candidates in exchange for jobs during this period.
The CBI registered a case on 18 May 2022 against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife, two daughters, unidentified public servants, and private individuals. Katyal had earlier been denied bail by a trial court on 22 May, prompting him to approach the high court.
(With inputs from agencies)
A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal said it was not inclined to interfere with the Delhi High Court's decision to release Katyal on bail.
"No big fish. Main persons have not been arrested. Why go on after only small flies? Are you afraid of going after them? Why have you not arrested 11 other accused?" the bench remarked, questioning the ED’s selective action.
Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the ED, argued that the high court’s bail order was flawed and should be overturned.
The Delhi high court, on 17 September last year, granted bail to Katyal, criticising what it described as a “pick and choose” approach by the ED. The court observed that despite Katyal joining the investigation, he was detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport without proper justification, just before boarding a flight to Ranchi.
The court noted that no other accused had been arrested in the case, even though they were alleged to be the main beneficiaries. It said Katyal's role appeared to be less significant, and given that he was cooperating with the probe and posed no flight risk, he was entitled to bail.
Katyal, arrested by the ED on 10 November 2023 under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh and two sureties of the same amount.
The ED, however, maintained that Katyal had played an active role in assisting Lalu Yadav and his family in handling proceeds from alleged corrupt practices during Yadav’s time as railway minister. Katyal was also the director of A K Infosystems Private Limited, which the ED claimed acquired land from job seekers on Yadav’s behalf.
The case involves alleged irregularities in Group D recruitments in the West Central Zone of Indian Railways, based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, between 2004 and 2009. It is alleged that land parcels were given or transferred by candidates in exchange for jobs during this period.
The CBI registered a case on 18 May 2022 against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife, two daughters, unidentified public servants, and private individuals. Katyal had earlier been denied bail by a trial court on 22 May, prompting him to approach the high court.
(With inputs from agencies)
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