In a significant relief for Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) MLA Abbas Ansari, the Supreme Court granted him bail on Friday in connection with a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

A bench led by Justice MM Sundresh overturned the Allahabad High Court's May 9 decision, which had rejected his bail application.

The Supreme Court bench, also comprising Justice Pankaj Mithal, stipulated that Ansari be released on bail under conditions determined by the trial court. The apex court emphasized that the trial court should impose measures to prevent the accused from influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence.

In August, the Supreme Court had issued a notice regarding the matter, requesting the ED to respond to Ansari's special leave petition. The Allahabad High Court had previously denied bail, instructing the trial court to expedite proceedings as swiftly as possible.

Justice Jaspreet Singh of the Allahabad High Court stated that he could not find prima facie satisfaction under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to conclude that Ansari was not guilty or that he would not commit an offense while on bail.

The court noted the ED's presented money trail, linking Ansari to financial transactions involving two firms—M/s Vikas Construction and M/s Aaghaaz—allegedly used for money laundering.

The ED launched its investigation under the PMLA based on three distinct FIRs related to predicate offenses. The first FIR alleged that partners of a construction company encroached on public property by falsifying records. The second FIR stemmed from claims that Mukhtar Ansari misappropriated funds from the MLA fund to build a school that was never constructed, with the land instead being used for agricultural purposes. The third FIR alleged that the Ansari family used their influence to illegally occupy government land and construct an unauthorized house.

Abbas Ansari's release on bail will be contingent upon the outcome of separate petitions seeking bail related to unlawful jail visits and the Gangsters Act cases, which are set for hearing before a bench led by Justice Surya Kant on Friday.