THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Dec 8: Benoy Babu, an officer of the alcohol company Pernod Ricard, was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday in relation to the Delhi liquor policy case. The top court made some important observations while providing relief to the accused in the excise policy case.
The court emphasized that “You can’t keep people behind bars before trial for so long.”
On November 10, 2022, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Benoy Babu and was placed under judicial custody.
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SC points out discrepancies
The Supreme Court observed discrepancies in the information provided by investigative agencies. It pointed out a discrepancy between the allegations made by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and those presented by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
“An accused cannot be kept in pre-trial detention for such a long time and it is a fact that he is behind bars for 13 months and trial is yet to begin in the case. More accused still to be brought in. There seems to be contradictions between what CBI and ED are alleging. Let him be released on bail,” the Supreme Court said.
The Supreme Court also remarked, “This is not proper. We don’t know how this case will go (ahead)”.
Two days after Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court rejected Babu’s interim medical bail in connection with the money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy case, the Supreme Court has now granted him relief.
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