A Delhi court has granted bail to Jalaluddin alias Sameer, a co-accused in an extortion and kidnapping case involving Vikas Yadav. Vikas Yadav, a former Indian government official, is also facing charges by US authorities for his alleged involvement in a thwarted plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States.
Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Partap Singh Laler, presiding over Jalaluddin's bail plea, cited "undisputed evidence" that the complainant and the accused traveled together to Thailand approximately three weeks after the First Information Report (FIR) was registered on January 6, 2024, which created a prima facie doubt. The court's order, dated July 23, 2025, notes that the complainant, Raj Kumar Walia, alleged that he was kidnapped, assaulted, and robbed by Vikas Yadav and Abdullah Khan on December 17, 2023. Walia stated that Yadav claimed to be acting on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
According to the complainant, he was coerced into making a video call to Jalaluddin, who was purportedly in Dubai, demanding "hawala payments". Walia further alleged that he was injected with a substance, beaten, and robbed of valuables, including cash, jewelry, and cheques. The Delhi Police's special cell registered an FIR invoking charges of kidnapping for ransom, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, robbery, criminal conspiracy, and violations under the Arms Act. Yadav and Khan were previously arrested, and certain recoveries were made based on their information. However, Jalaluddin was arrested on July 1, 2025, for his alleged role in the criminal conspiracy.
Jalaluddin's counsel informed the court that his client and Walia traveled to Thailand on the same day, January 6, 2024, shortly after the FIR was lodged on December 17, 2023. This fact, the counsel argued, was not disclosed by the complainant to the Investigating Officer or the court at any stage.
The court granted Jalaluddin bail upon his furnishing a bail bond and two surety bonds of ₹1 lakh each. Further conditions of the bail include that Jalaluddin must not tamper with evidence, must not contact the complainant, and must cooperate for the expeditious disposal of the case. A chargesheet has already been filed against Jalaluddin, with further proceedings scheduled for August 25, 2025.
In related news, the Supreme Court had previously extended the interim bail of Vikas Yadav in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case. The extension was granted for four weeks to allow for post-operative care for his mother. Justices M.M. Sundresh and K. Vinod Chandran clarified that no further extensions would be granted based on the health condition of Yadav's mother. The court had earlier directed that Yadav's mother be examined by a medical board at AIIMS Delhi and a medical report submitted. During his interim bail, Yadav was required to stay at his residence in Ghaziabad, except for visits to Yashoda Hospital after his mother was transferred from AIIMS Delhi. The Supreme Court has relaxed the condition that required Yadav to remain at his residence in Ghaziabad during his interim bail, allowing him to take his mother for medical treatment.
