SC refuses to extend interim bail of lawyer in PMLA case

The Supreme Court today refused to extend the three-week interim bail granted by Delhi High Court to lawyer Rohit Tandon, who was arrested in connection with an alleged money laundering case after demonetisation.
The lawyer had sought extension of his interim bail expiring on September 6 on the ground that he has filed a plea for regular bail before the apex court to look after his ailing mother.
He was granted interim bail on August 10 by the high court from where he had withdrawan his plea for regular bail.
Today, a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on his regular bail plea and asked the agency to file its response in two weeks.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Tandon, requested the bench to extend the interim bail granted to him by the high court which would expire on September 6.
However, the bench said, "No. You (Tandon) have to surrender".

Tandon had earlier moved a fresh bail application before the high court which on May 5 had rejected his bail plea.
A trial court had earlier denied bail to Tandon on the ground that he was alleged to have been involved in a "white collar crime" with other accused in a "well-planned" manner.
The ED had arrested him after a raid on his law firm in connection with a black money probe that had led to the alleged seizure of Rs 13.6 crore. He was allegedly involved in illegal conversion of nearly Rs 60 crore demonetised currency.

Besides him, some other accused were also arrested in connection with a separate Prevention of Money Laundering Act case.