Supreme Court Declines To Grant Early Hearing in Businessman Amandeep Singh Dhall’s Bail Plea, “We have to think about poor litigants”

On September 24, 2024 (Yesterday), the Supreme Court (SC) bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan declined to grant an early hearing in the bail plea filed by businessman Amandeep Singh Dhall in a case registered by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy Scam. He approached the SC challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision to deny him bail. The matter was mentioned by Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi who appeared for Dhall seeking an earlier listing of the matter. He said, “Longest incarceration compared to other accused who got relief.” He added, “He got regular bail in the money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate case. The findings in a more stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act case in my favor. I am also seeking interim bail.” The SC bench said, “We have to think about poor litigants also. We cannot just bypass procedure of the Supreme Court or hear you at midnight.” The bench added that it would list the matter including an application for interim bail in the second week of October 2024. 

Earlier on September 17, the top court issued a notice to the CBI seeking its reply on the businessman’s plea and posted the matter for hearing on November. In April 2023, Amandeep Singh Dhall was arrested by the CBI for being involved in formulating Delhi liquor policy from the beginning and was in close contact with co-accused Vijay Nair. The matter was first heard by the Delhi High Court which denied him bail and said, “Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case...when charges are yet to be framed and evidence is yet to be recorded, and the fact that an FIR already stands registered against the applicant for paying bribe to an officer of Directorate of Enforcement for getting his name removed from the present case, this court does not find any ground for grant of bail to the applicant, at this stage.” Aggrieved by the decision, Dhall moved the SC seeking bail.