Supreme Court Grants Bail to Vijay Nair in Delhi Excise Policy Case
The Supreme Court of India has granted bail to Vijay Nair, who has been in custody for 23 months in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy. A bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice SVN Bhatti made the decision, emphasizing that keeping Nair in custody without trial would defeat the principle that bail is the rule and jail is the exception.
The court highlighted the importance of the right to liberty under Article 21, stating that it must be respected even in cases involving stringent laws. Nair had challenged the Delhi High Court’s decision to deny him bail, arguing that he was being unfairly targeted due to his political affiliation with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Nair, who was initially arrested by the CBI in September 2022 and later by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was accused of receiving kickbacks and committing irregularities in the excise policy. He claimed that the allegations were false and that his arrest was illegal and politically motivated.
The ED and CBI alleged that Nair, on behalf of AAP leaders, received Rs 100 crore in kickbacks from a group called the South Group. Nair, the former Media and Communication In-charge of AAP and former CEO of the entertainment firm Only Much Louder, argued that he was not involved in the excise policy’s drafting or implementation.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes the final decisions on important legal matters.
Bail -: Bail is when someone who has been arrested is allowed to go home until their trial, usually after paying some money as a promise to return.
Vijay Nair -: Vijay Nair is a person who used to work for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in media and communication. He was in jail for almost two years.
Delhi Excise Policy -: The Delhi Excise Policy is a set of rules about how alcohol is sold and distributed in Delhi.
Money laundering -: Money laundering is when people try to hide where money really came from, usually because it was earned in illegal ways.
Article 21 -: Article 21 is a part of the Indian Constitution that says everyone has the right to life and personal freedom.
AAP -: AAP stands for Aam Aadmi Party, a political party in India that focuses on fighting corruption and helping common people.
Kickbacks -: Kickbacks are illegal payments made in return for favors or services, often in business or government deals.
Irregularities -: Irregularities are actions or practices that are not normal or proper, often suggesting something wrong or illegal.