Delhi excise policy case: HC extends businessman Sameer Mahendru's interim bail by six weeks

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Sameer Mahendru in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy on medical grounds. While directing Mahendru to surrender before the trial court by 5 PM on September 4, Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma made it clear that no further extension of interim bail shall be granted to him on the grounds cited in the instant application. The high court observed that interim bail can never be allowed to be made an «evergreen process».

«Spinal injuries and surgeries are a serious issue and the recovery from them takes a long time. In view of the detailed order passed on June 12 and the medical records furnished by the petitioner, further extension of interim bail by six weeks is granted,» the high court said. It made clear that the order is not a precedent and has been passed on peculiar facts of the case.

Mahendru was earlier granted six weeks interim bail by the high court on June 12 on medical grounds and he was directed to surrender before the high court on July 25. On Monday, senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, representing Mahendru, urged the high court to extend the relief further by six weeks as his condition is not good and he has been advised bed rest. He said the businesman recently fell in the bathroom and suffered serious spinal injuries.

The ED's counsel vehemently opposed the plea to extend the interim bail and said the high court had earlier specifically directed him to surrender on July 25. He said Mahendru had visited the ED office on July 18, 21 and 22 on his own, without any summons being issued to him and this itself showed that the petitioner is able to walk and move freely. The counsel argued an interim bail cannot be an evergreen process and a short cut method to