The court passed the order noting that the petitioner had been in custody for five months and that, with charges yet to be framed, the trial could not begin soon.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to Rajasthan Jal Jeevan Mission scam accused Sanjay Badaya in connection with a money laundering case wherein he is alleged to have taken bribes to arrange tenders for contractors in state departments, including the Public Health and Engineering department.
A bench of Justice Bhushan R Gavai passed the order, noting that the petitioner has been in custody for five months and with charges yet to be framed, there was no possibility of the trial beginning soon.
There is no possibility of tampering with evidence since the Enforcement Directorate seizes all documentary evidence. Charges are yet to be framed. There are 50 witnesses to be examined, and evidence is over 8,000 pages, and chances of an expeditious trial is remote,” observed the bench, also comprising justice. The application for bail is allowed,” said the bench, also comprising Justice KV Viswanathan.
Badaya is said to have accepted bribe money amounting to ₹3.30 crore to favor contractors, who put the amount into his father’s bank account. The complaint was first registered by the anti-corruption bureau of Rajasthan in August 2023. The ED registered a case the same month to investigate the alleged proceeds of crime. Representing the federal agency, advocate Zoheb Hossain said that the accused later used the bribery amount to purchase property.
