Jaipur: Former MLA Baljeet Yadav suffered another setback Tuesday after Supreme Court refused to grant him bail in a money-laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities in the purchase of sports equipment for 32 govt schools.A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu declined to interfere with Rajasthan High Court’s order denying Yadav bail.Appearing for Yadav, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra argued that the prosecution complaint was yet to be taken cognisance of and that the proceedings had been repeatedly delayed. “Around 15 dates had already been taken in the matter, with no satisfactory explanation for the delay,” he argued.The defence relied on an investigation report concerning the supply of sports equipment, arguing that there were no complaints regarding either the delivery of the equipment or its quality. He contended that the material available with the Enforcement Directorate did not establish “a prima facie case of money laundering”.Senior advocate Zoheb Hossain, appearing for ED, alleged that Yadav had recommended four entities for the procurement of sports equipment and that govt funds released to those entities were subsequently routed to people allegedly connected to Yadav’s network.According to the agency, funds transferred from the Alwar treasury office to companies that secured the tenders were allegedly diverted instead of being used entirely for procurement and payments. ED claimed to have mapped the alleged money trail linking the tender-winning companies with Yadav’s relatives and associates.The agency also cited allegations of attempts to influence witnesses and destroy evidence.ED’s counsel also referred to the alleged recovery of a mobile phone from Yadav while he was in jail in Jaipur, following which a fresh FIR was reportedly registered.
