Supreme Court Grants Bail to AAP’s Vijay Nair in Delhi Excise Scam.

The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Vijay Nair, the communications-in-charge of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who is implicated in the money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy scam, as reported by Bar and Bench.

A Bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti expressed concerns over the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) failure to adhere to its timeline for completing the trial, despite previous assurances. The Court highlighted that approximately 350 witnesses still need to be examined.

The Court recalled that during the consideration of Manish Sisodia’s case, the ED had assured that the trial would conclude within six to eight months. However, the trial has yet to begin. The Court noted that although the ED had given this assurance on October 30, 2023, promising an early conclusion, 40 individuals have been charged, and the prosecution plans to examine around 350 witnesses.

Emphasizing that Nair has been in custody for 23 months, the Court stated that trial proceedings should not become a form of punishment. It underscored that the right to liberty under Article 21 is a sacrosanct right that must be respected, even under stringent laws. The Court further stressed that the general principle of bail being the rule and jail being the exception would be defeated if the petitioner remains incarcerated without the trial commencing.