New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted six-week interim bail on medical grounds to Amit Katyal, a close aide of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, in a money laundering case related to the alleged land-for-employment scam. on the Indian Railways.
Katyal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on November 11, 2023 under various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), argued that after undergoing bariatric surgery, he needed treatment and Additional care that was not available in Tihar. cell.
Allowing his release on interim bail, a vacation bench of Justice Dharmesh Sharma observed that Katyal's dietary requirements are such that they cannot be met in the jail premises, and after bariatric surgery, he needs adequate diet to achieve a adequate physical, mental health and psychological well-being.
"The level of care, attention, minute-by-minute monitoring and emergency response that the applicant requires cannot currently be provided in prison. There is no denying that providing home-cooked food every day for a long period of time is complicated with several technical obstacles in the jail premises," the court said.
"This court is inclined to allow the application for interim bail on medical grounds for a period of six weeks from the date of his release from jail," the court ordered and asked Katyal to furnish a personal surety along with a surety of 2.5 rupees. lakh each.
The court further observed that a charge had been filed against the accused, who had also been released on provisional bail for about 84 days earlier, but no charge of influencing the investigation was attached to him.
The ED argued that the petitioner had earlier been granted provisional bail on medical grounds for almost 84 days and he cannot apply for extension of bail on medical grounds all the time.
If there is any special dietary requirement, he can be taken to jail via home-cooked food, the agency said.
The probe agency has alleged that Katyal had acquired land from several railway job aspirants on behalf of RJD chief and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad.
The ED has claimed that Katyal was a director of a company called AK Infosystems Private Limited, which acquired land from candidates "on behalf" of Lalu Prasad. Some other members of the RJD supremo's family are also accused in the case.
Katyal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on November 11, 2023 under various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), argued that after undergoing bariatric surgery, he needed treatment and Additional care that was not available in Tihar. cell.
Allowing his release on interim bail, a vacation bench of Justice Dharmesh Sharma observed that Katyal's dietary requirements are such that they cannot be met in the jail premises, and after bariatric surgery, he needs adequate diet to achieve a adequate physical, mental health and psychological well-being.
"The level of care, attention, minute-by-minute monitoring and emergency response that the applicant requires cannot currently be provided in prison. There is no denying that providing home-cooked food every day for a long period of time is complicated with several technical obstacles in the jail premises," the court said.
"This court is inclined to allow the application for interim bail on medical grounds for a period of six weeks from the date of his release from jail," the court ordered and asked Katyal to furnish a personal surety along with a surety of 2.5 rupees. lakh each.
The court further observed that a charge had been filed against the accused, who had also been released on provisional bail for about 84 days earlier, but no charge of influencing the investigation was attached to him.
The ED argued that the petitioner had earlier been granted provisional bail on medical grounds for almost 84 days and he cannot apply for extension of bail on medical grounds all the time.
If there is any special dietary requirement, he can be taken to jail via home-cooked food, the agency said.
The probe agency has alleged that Katyal had acquired land from several railway job aspirants on behalf of RJD chief and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad.
The ED has claimed that Katyal was a director of a company called AK Infosystems Private Limited, which acquired land from candidates "on behalf" of Lalu Prasad. Some other members of the RJD supremo's family are also accused in the case.
