The Supreme Court today, approved bail for Benoy Babu, an executive at Pernod Ricard, who was embroiled in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy scam. The two-judge Bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti, acknowledged that Babu had been in custody for over 13 months without the trial commencing.

During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Harish Salve, representing Benoy Babu, argued that the case against his client, under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), is entirely baseless. Salve pointed out a discrepancy in the ED's case regarding the timeline of events. According to the ED's claims, Babu met Vijay Nair, the Aam Aadmi Party's communication in-charge and an accused in the Delhi excise policy case, on March 27, 2021, even though the draft excise policy had been announced on March 22, 2021.

In response to Salve's submission, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, acknowledged that Babu did meet Nair on March 27, 2021. Justice Khanna emphasized that prolonged pre-trial detention is inappropriate and highlighted the discrepancies between the findings of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED regarding Babu.

The bench expressed concern over the extended pre-trial detention, stating, "It's essentially prolonged pre-trial detention. In the CBI's case, he is considered a prosecution witness, but in the ED's case, he has been identified as an accused." Consequently, the Supreme Court directed the release of Benoy Babu on bail.

It's important to note that Babu had contested the denial of bail, as per the Delhi High Court's decision on July 3. The High Court had justified the denial of bail, citing ample evidence supporting the ED's assertion that Babu was involved in or knowingly aiding activities related to the proceeds of crime.

The excise policy implemented by the Delhi government on November 17, 2021, was later revoked at the end of September 2022 due to corruption allegations. Both Benoy Babu and Vijay Nair were arrested by the ED in November of the previous year.