Delhi High Court Grants Bail to Sukanya Mondal
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Sukanya Mondal, daughter of Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal, after she spent 16 months in custody. Sukanya was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 26, 2023, in a money laundering case linked to cattle smuggling at the India-Bangladesh border.
Details of the Case
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna granted Sukanya’s bail after her plea had been pending since last year. Her initial bail plea was dismissed by the trial court on June 1, 2023, leading her to approach the High Court. Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa represented Sukanya, arguing that she had been in custody since April 2023 and that the ED had already filed a charge sheet against her.
Arguments Presented
Advocate Amit Kumar, representing Sukanya, argued that she should be granted bail similar to another accused, Tanya Sanyal, who was not arrested despite being charged. He also mentioned Sukanya’s health issues and the completion of the investigation as reasons for her release. The ED, represented by Special Public Prosecutor, opposed the bail, citing national security concerns and the involvement of significant amounts of money.
Background
Anubrata Mondal, Sukanya’s father and a Trinamool Congress leader, was also arrested in connection with the same case. He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in a related CBI case in July 2022. The case involves allegations of cattle smuggling and money laundering, with significant amounts of money deposited in various bank accounts linked to the accused.
Doubts Revealed
Delhi High Court -: The Delhi High Court is a big court in Delhi, India, where important legal cases are decided.
Bail -: Bail means allowing someone to be free from jail while they wait for their trial, usually with some conditions.
Sukanya Mondal -: Sukanya Mondal is the daughter of Anubrata Mondal, a leader in the Trinamool Congress party.
Money Laundering -: Money laundering is when people try to hide where money really came from, often because it was earned illegally.
Trinamool Congress -: Trinamool Congress is a political party in India, mainly active in the state of West Bengal.
Anubrata Mondal -: Anubrata Mondal is a leader in the Trinamool Congress party.
Cattle Smuggling -: Cattle smuggling is the illegal movement of cows and other animals across borders, in this case, between India and Bangladesh.
Enforcement Directorate -: The Enforcement Directorate is a government agency in India that investigates financial crimes like money laundering.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna -: Justice Neena Bansal Krishna is a judge in the Delhi High Court who made the decision to grant bail to Sukanya Mondal.