The Supreme Court asked the Bombay High Court on Monday to hear and rule on the Bail application of Maharashtra’s former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, who was detained in connection with a money laundering case.

A panel of Justices DY Chandrachud and Hima Kohli expressed concern that the Bombay High Court had kept Deshmukh’s Bail Application pending for so long and directed it to hear his case this week and determine it swiftly. The Supreme Court noted that Deshmukh’s bail application has been pending in the High Court since March 21, and stated that having bail petitions lingering for eight months is contrary to bail law.

In its order, the bench said, “Any person who has filed a bail application has a legitimate expectation that his plea will be disposed of at an early date. Keeping an application for bail pending is inconsistent with the Right to Life under Article 21. We issue a direction and permit the petitioner to apply before the judge to whom the case has been assigned tomorrow. The application shall be taken for hearing during the course of this week and decided expeditiously.”

Deshmukh’s bail application was being heard by High Court Justice NJ Jamadar.

After the Special Court rejected his plea, Deshmukh sought bail from the High Court in the money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate.

Deshmukh was arrested in November 2021 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and is now in judicial detention.

According to the ED, Deshmukh abused his position as state home minister by obtaining Rs 4.70 million from numerous Mumbai bars via police officials.