SC Grants Bail to Ex-Rajasthan Minister in Money Laundering Case, Imposes Strict Conditions

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{ "title": "SC Grants Bail to Ex-Rajasthan Minister in Money Laundering Case, Imposes Strict Conditions", "article": "The Supreme Court has granted bail to former Rajasthan minister Mahesh Joshi in a high-profile money laundering case, but with strict conditions to ensure he does not interfere with the investigation or tamper with evidence. Joshi, who was arrested in April, has been in custody for seven months, but the court ruled that continued detention was no longer necessary due to the lengthy and complex nature of the trial. The case against Joshi, a former minister for public health and engineering, relates to allegations of money laundering during his tenure in the state government. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a case in August 2023, based on a predicate offence investigated by the state Anti-Corruption Bureau. Although Joshi was not initially named in the case, a supplementary chargesheet revealed that over ₹2 crore of proceeds had been routed through a web of companies to a firm operated by his son. The ED had opposed the bail plea, citing Joshi's influential status and the potential for tampering with evidence. However, the Supreme Court found that the case was based on documentary evidence and that the trial was at a premature stage, with 66 witnesses cited by the prosecution. The court also noted that several co-accused in the case were already out on bail. Justice Augustine George Masih, writing the judgment, said, "In our view, these circumstances indicate that the commencement of trial is not imminent and that the trial itself is not likely to conclude once started in the near future." The court imposed conditions on Joshi, including surrendering his passport, not leaving the country without permission, and cooperating fully with the trial. The trial court will determine the specific terms and conditions of his bail. The Supreme Court's decision has been seen as a significant development in the case, which has been ongoing for several months. Joshi's release on bail is subject to the conditions imposed by the court, which aim to ensure that the investigation and trial proceed smoothly and without interference."