New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) A Delhi court on Wednesday granted regular bail to former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and her daughters, Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav in Railway's land for job scam case.
Government Counsel for Enforcement Directorate (ED) after filing the reply to the applications for regular bail moved on behalf of accused persons, namely Accused No. 2 Rabri Devi, Accused No. 5, Smt. Misha Bharti, Accused No. 6, Smt. Hema Yadav, and Accused No. 7 Hridyanand Chaudhary submitted that the allegations involving money laundering are grievous in nature, and if the Court were to consider admitting the accused persons to bail, stringent conditions may be imposed.
Counsel for the accused submitted that the investigating agency did not find it necessary to effect arrest during the investigation, and hence there is no plausible reason for the Court to deny the relief of regular bail.
The Special MP/MLAs case's judge, Vishal Gogne, said after hearing, "It is the apparent scenario that the accused persons were not arrested consciously by the investigating agency. Hence, there is no reason for the Court to employ any further stringent standard to speculate whether the accused persons are likely to flee from trial or influence witnesses if they are admitted to regular bail. All bail applications are allowed.
Accused No. 2 Smt. Rabri Devi, Accused No. 5 Smt. Misha Bharti, Accused No. 6 Smt. Hema Yadav, and Accused No. 7 Hridyanand Chaudhary is admitted to regular bail for furnishing personal bonds and surety bonds in the sum of Rs. 1,00,000 each. The accused persons shall also adhere to the following terms and conditions:
(i) The accused persons shall appear before the court when directed.
(ii) The accused persons shall inform the ED regarding their mobile phone numbers and addresses, as well as any changes in the same.
(iii) The accused persons shall not leave the country without prior permission of the Court.
(iv) The accused persons shall not contact, influence, or coerce any person or witnesses connected with the present case.".
Counsel on behalf of the accused persons submitted that the soft copy of the complaint, provided through CD, is not accessible.
The court said,Let a fresh soft copy be provided by way of CD or pendrive by the ED to the accused persons within one week.
List for scrutiny of documents on March 16, 2024".
The Court said," Let a copy of the complaint and accompanying documents be provided to accused No. 1 to 7.
The matter shall be taken up on the next date for scrutiny of documents and consideration of the bail applications of accused no. 2, 5, 6, and 7, as well as the previously filed bail application of accused no. 1. List on February 28, 2024.
Enforcement Directorate (ED), after investigation under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA), filed a charge sheet in the railway land for jobs case against the accused persons, and after taking cognizance on January 27, the court issued a summons against the accused persons for appearance before the court on February 9.
On February 9, Rabri Devi, Misha Bharti, Hema Yadav, and Hridyanand Chaudhary were admitted to interim bail until February 28 for furnishing personal bonds and surety bonds in the sum of Rs. 1,00,000 each.
The court has also issued a production warrant against businessman Amit Katyal, who was arrested by the ED in November last year and is presently in judicial custody.
The allegations against Amit Katyal, described as a "close associate" of the Yadav family, railway employee Hridayanand Chaudhary, and two firms, A K Infosystems Pvt. Ltd. and A B Exports Pvt. Ltd., with common director Shariqul Bari.
It is purported that between 2004 and 2009, individuals were appointed to Group "D" positions within various zones of the Indian Railways, allegedly in exchange for transferring their land as bribes to the family members of the then railway minister and a company named A K Infosystems Private Limited.
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