RELYING ON SUPREME COURT'S KEJRIWAL ORDER, HIGH COURT GRANTS INTERIM BAIL TO FORMER PUNJAB MINISTER BOOKED UNDER PMLA TO CAMPAIGN FOR LOK SABHA POLLS

The Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case Sandhu Singh Dharamsot v. Directorate Of Enforcement observed and has also relied on the Supreme Court's order granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections relied on, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted interim bail to Punjab's former Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case. 

The bench headed by Justice Vikas Behl stated that the said court does not doubt the plea raised on behalf of the petitioner to the effect that he being a five time Ex.-MLA, having held the rank of a Cabinet Minister, wishes to campaign for his political party with whom he has been associated since 1992.

Further, it being the case of petitioner that he had responded to every summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate and had not skipped any summons.The court in the case is of the opinion that the argument raised on behalf of respondent-ED to the effect that the petitioner does not deserve the same benefit as has been granted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Arvind Kejriwal, Supra is liable to be rejected and the petitioner in the facts and circumstances of the present case deserves to be released on interim bail for a limited period.

The court in the case considered that the Enforcement Directorate, ED sought time to place on record certain material hence the main petition for grant of regular bail is required to be deferred.