Supreme Court denies (for now) interim bail to AAP Punjab MLA Jaswant Singh; seeks ED reply

The Court has sought the response of the Union government and the Enforcement Directorate to Singh's plea challenging his arrest, as well as his application for interim bail to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to grant interim bail to Punjab legislator Jaswant Singh without first hearing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central government in the matter [Jaswant Singh vs Union of India and anr].

Singh has sought interim release from prison for the purpose of campaigning for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections

A Vacation Bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Aravind Kumar, however, refused to grant any interim relief through an ex-parte order (order without hearing the other side).

It proceeded to call for the response of the Union government and the ED to Singh's plea challenging his arrest by the central agency, as well as his application for interim bail.