The Supreme Court of India has refused to entertain the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) plea against the interim bail granted to businessman Sameer Mahandru by the Delhi High Court. Mahandru had been granted bail for six weeks on medical grounds, which is set to expire on July 25.

The ED had vehemently argued against the decision, calling it a "shocking order" and stating that Mahandru was not entitled to a single day of bail. The agency contended that the high court had passed the order based on incorrect facts and ignored the clean chit given by a medical board constituted in May.

However, the Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Bela M Trivedi, expressed its disinclination to interfere with the high court's direction, as the period of interim bail would soon come to an end. The bench dismissed the petition, stating, "We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order granting interim bail till July 25, since it will run itself out in the next three weeks. Therefore, the petition is dismissed, leaving the question of law open."

This decision comes against the backdrop of the ongoing controversy surrounding the excise policy framed by the Government of Delhi in 2021. The policy, aimed at boosting revenue and reforming the liquor trade, was later withdrawn due to allegations of irregularities. Lieutenant-Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the policy, claiming that it had favored private entities at the expense of the public exchequer.

Sameer Mahandru, a businessman allegedly involved in the irregularities, was taken into custody by the ED last year as part of its money laundering investigation. However, the Delhi High Court granted him interim bail on medical grounds last month, while denying bail to Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia in the same case.

The investigations into the excise policy irregularities, which led to the arrest of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others, are currently underway. The case has garnered significant attention as it exposes alleged corruption and misuse of power.

The Supreme Court's refusal to interfere with the interim bail granted to Sameer Mahandru has sparked interest in the legal and political circles, raising questions about the handling of the case and the future implications of the decision. As the investigations continue, further developments are eagerly awaited to shed light on the alleged irregularities and the role of those involved.

Case Title: Enforcement Directorate v. Sameer Mahandru | Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 7438 of 2023

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