SUPREME COURT REJECTED EX-IAS OFFICER POOJA SINGHAL'S PLEA FOR BAIL IN MONEY LAUNDERING CASE OVER ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT OF MNREGA FUNDS

The Supreme court in the case Pooja Singhal v. Directorate of Enforcement observed and has refused to grant bail to ex-IAS officer Pooja Singhal in a money laundering case pending against her over alleged embezzlement of MNREGA funds in Khunti district.

The bench comprising of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta in the case was hearing Singhal's appeal against a Jharkhand High Court order by which she was denied bail.

The bench headed by Justice Khanna after hearing the parties stated that, this court is not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgment and hence special leave petition is dismissed...We hope and trust that the trial will proceed expeditiously.

However, Singhal was given liberty to revive the prayer for bail in case of changed circumstances, or if the trial gets prolonged due to reasons not attributable to her/ co-accused.

Therefore, the said decision came as Enforcement Directorate, ED informed the court that 12 out of 17 witnesses sought to be examined had already deposed.