The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Member of Legislative Assembly Abbas Ansari in two cases while asking him to move the Allahabad High Court for anticipatory bail in a third. [Abbas Ansari vs State of Uttar Pradesh]
A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Pankaj Mithal granted bail to him in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
This was after Ansari's counsel, Kapil Sibal, submitted that no proceeds of crime have been recovered except a Ford Endeavour car and that predicate offence does not name him.
"Ansari has represented India at international level as a sport shooter in shotgun shooting. And look what ED is saying. I am named no where. They say I have bought Ford Endeavour car, if that is proceeds of crime, then please take it," Sibal said.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju contested the bail plea.
"He has all car and money as proceeds. He says that he has got money by doing work related to Sports Authorities. He is going to hamper the trial," the ASG said.
"Take it (car) from me but don't unnecessarily keep me jail. I have been in jail for over two years," Sibal said.
The Court said that it was inclined to release Ansari, though it said it will not record anything on merits.
"We are inclined to set aside judgment and grant him bail subject to conditions imposed by trial court. Trial court will impose conditions so that accused cannot influence witness or tamper evidence," the Court said.
Meanwhile, another Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan granted Ansari bail in a case involving allegations that his wife had been visiting him in jail without complying with the necessary formalities.
The bail was granted in view of the chargesheet having been filed and the also after taking into account the fact that he has been in jail for over a year.
It noted that it had not expressed anything on the merits of the case and bail terms would set by trial court.
The same Bench, however, refused to grant him anticipatory bail in a Gangster Act case, which Ansari claimed was registered to frustrate his bail in other cases.
The Bench directed him to move the Allahabad High Court for the same, which is to dispose of the matter within four weeks, with liberty to move the Supreme Court again in case of delay.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal assisted by advocates Nizam Pasha, Aprajita Jamwal, Aayushi Mishra and Awstika Das appeared for Ansari.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi and Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj appeared for the State of Uttar Pradesh.