Observations by special judge in Sanjay Raut bail order uncalled for, having adverse impact on other cases: ED to Bombay High Court

The observations made by special judge MG Deshpande in his order granting bail to Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, were uncalled for and are having an adverse impact on other cases, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told the Bombay High Court on Friday..The special court had granted bail to Raut on November 9. In the order granting bail, the special judge had observed that ED is adopting a pick and choose strategy when arresting people in money laundering cases and that Raut was arrested illegally. The order also strongly deprecated the agency for its modus operandi of arresting the accused at extraordinary pace in money laundering cases but conducting trial at snail's pace.The ED had challenged the order before the High Court. .During the hearing of the appeal today before Justice Bharati Dangre, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh, appearing for ED, contended that the observations of the special court were having an adverse impact on their other cases. "The order has observations which are having adverse impact on various cases. The observations are uncalled for from the special judge," the ASG stated asking the High Court to grant urgent hearing. "There are many orders which have such adverse impact," the Court said in response. The matter was eventually posted for hearing on November 25 after the ASG told the Court that ED will make amendments to the petition The counsel for Raut and co-accused Pravin Raut sought time to respond to the amended petition by the ED which was allowed..Raut was arrested by the ED on July 31 in connection with the money laundering case.He was summoned for questioning in the re-development of Patra chawl and related transactions involving his wife and ‘associates’. He was arrested on July 31 and after spending 8 days in ED’s custody, Raut was remanded to judicial custody.He moved for bail on September 7 claiming that ED’s case against him was filed to crush the opposition faced by the ruling party. He also contended that the amount of ₹1.06 crore shown as proceeds of crime was accounted for and explained.The agency on the other hand, contended that the offence in the present case was for Raut’s private gain at the cost of public fund.The central agency also contended that Raut played a major role in the offence through his proxy and alleged aide Pravin Raut.After bail was granted, Raut was released from prison at 7 pm the same evening.