Supreme Court shocked by Delhi HC's extended stay on bail order without specific reasons
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed shock over the Delhi High Court’s decision to extend a stay on a regular bail order for more than a year without providing specific reasons. The apex court also questioned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for defending the High Court's interim stay on the trial court's bail order.
The Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, heard the petition of Parvinder Singh Khurana, accused in a money laundering case, challenging the Delhi HC's temporary stay on the trial court’s June 2023 order granting him bail.
Expressing surprise at the prolonged stay by the Delhi HC, Justice Oka questioned why the High Court was delaying the bail when Khurana was not accused of terrorism. The stay had been issued following a petition by the ED seeking to cancel the bail granted to Khurana.
Advocate Zoheb Hossain, representing the ED, argued that the trial court had granted bail without considering all factors of the case. He noted that three judges of the Delhi HC had recused themselves from hearing the ED’s application for the cancellation of Khurana’s bail.
When the Supreme Court bench asked the ED to justify the Delhi HC's single-line order staying the bail, Hossain explained that the parties had no control over the court's decision to provide reasons in its orders. He expressed the prosecution's helplessness but emphasized that Khurana was involved in laundering significant amounts of illegally acquired funds.
Justice Oka acknowledged that both the ED and the apex court bore some responsibility regarding the case. The bench reserved its judgment and allowed the ED's advocate to submit a detailed note within two days.
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Allen, Raghuvanshi, Green power KKR to 29-run win over GT
Kolkata (PTI): Finn Allen blasted a 35-ball 93, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit an unbeaten 44-ball 82 as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 29-run win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL match here on Saturday.
Sent in to bat, Allen went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums and four boundaries to add 95 off 41 balls with Raghuvanshi (82).
Raghuvanshi then shared another 108 off 53 balls with Cameron Green (52 not out) to power KKR to a challenging 247 for 2.
In reply, GT could manage 218-4, riding on skipper Shubman Gill's 49-ball 85 and a 35-ball 57 from Jos Buttler. Opener Sai Sudarsan was retired hurt but returned to make a 28-ball 53 not out.
Sunil Narine (2/29) claimed two wickets and Saurabh Dubey snapped one for KKR.
For GT, Mohammed Siraj (1/50), Sai Kishore (1/38) were the wicket-takers.
Brief Score:
KKR: 247 for 2 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 93, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 82 not out, Camero Green 52 not out; Mohammed Siraj 1/50).
GT: 218 for 4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 85, Sunil Narine 2/29).
