New Delhi, September 2: The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Vijay Nair in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy case.
A bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice SVN Bhatti granted bail to Nair noting that he is in custody for 23 months in the matter.
"The universal proposition of bail being the rule and jail being the exception will be entirely defeated if the petitioner is kept in custody as an under trial for a long duration," the top court said.
The top court said that Vijay Nair deserved bail subject to conditions given in Manish Sisodia and K Kavitha bail order.
The Supreme Court said that the right of liberty under Article 21 is a sacrosanct right that requires to be respected even in cases where stringent provisions are enacted under special laws.
"In the case at hand, the petitioner is in custody for 23 months and his incarceration as under trial cannot be a mode of punishment without trial being commenced," the top court said.
Vijay Nair has challenged the Delhi High Court order which denied bail to him in the liquor policy case. His bail plea was earlier rejected by the trial court.
Nair was arrested by CBI initially in September 2022 and later by ED in the matter.
He has sought bail on the ground of parity that co-accused Manish Sisodia has been granted bail and trial has not been commenced in the matter. (ANI)
