The Rajasthan High Court has rejected the bail plea of former minister and Congress leader Mahesh Joshi. Joshi was arrested by the ED on April 24 in connection with the Rs 900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) money laundering scam. Previously, his bail application had also been rejected by a special court. He will now remain in jail and has received no immediate relief.
Jaipur: The Jaipur bench of the Rajasthan High Court has rejected the bail application of former minister and close Congress leader Mahesh Joshi. Joshi was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 24 in the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam. Earlier, a special court had also rejected his bail plea in this serious case of money laundering.
In a verdict delivered on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Justice Praveer Bhatnagar, the High Court stated that Mahesh Joshi cannot be granted bail given the serious nature of the charges against him. They stated that considering the seriousness of the case and the possibility of pressuring potential witnesses, it is necessary for him to remain in jail.
Serious Money Laundering Allegations Against Mahesh Joshi
Mahesh Joshi has been booked for money laundering in connection with the Rs 900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam. The ED has alleged that bribes were taken in the tender process, and related financial transactions are being investigated.
ED's lawyer, Akshay Bhardwaj, argued in court that the accused can only be granted bail if he is proven prima facie innocent. He said that returning the money does not reduce the severity of the crime and, considering the possibility of pressuring witnesses, bail would be inconsistent.
Joshi's Lawyer Said - The Case Was Fabricated
Senior advocate Vivekraj Bajwa, representing Mahesh Joshi, claimed that Joshi has been wrongly implicated in the case. He stated that Joshi's name was not initially included in the ACB's FIR.
Bajwa said that Joshi is accused of transactions worth Rs 2.01 crore, but there is no solid evidence for this. Furthermore, the report showed a transaction of Rs 50 lakh in his son's firm, which was taken as a loan and also repaid.
Rejection of Bail Increases Joshi's Difficulties
After this decision, it is currently difficult for Mahesh Joshi to get out of jail. Allegations such as money laundering and bribery in tenders are serious against him. The High Court has made it clear that rejecting the bail request is necessary in view of the seriousness of his case and the security of the judicial process.
