Ranchi, May 11: The Supreme Court today rejected the bail appeal of former state health and labour minister and current Bhawnathpur MLA Bhanu Pratap Shahi in the ongoing money laundering case.

Shahi, possibly left wondering why Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's bail luck did not rub off him, knows that his chances of freedom from judicial custody appear improbable.

Shahi had challenged Jharkhand High Court's decision on April 15, which had refused him bail, by approaching the Supreme Court with a special leave petition (SLP).

After arguing the merits of the plea, Shahi's lawyer withdrew the SLP and the Supreme Court dismissed the plea "as withdrawn". In effect, the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu rejected Shahi's petition.

Shahi, facing charges of money laundering (section 3 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002), by Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been in judicial custody at Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi since February 7 this year.

On January 30, ED court issued an arrest warrant against Shahi for not appearing before the court during hearing.

When the PMLA court rejected his bail petition, Shahi surrendered before PMLA-cum-CBI court on February 7 and then moved high court.

But, on April 15, the single bench of high court headed by Justice H.C. Mishra also refused to grant him bail, observing that Shahi had tried to interfere in the investigation and conceal evidence of the case.

In its chargesheet, the ED said that Shahi amassed movable and immovable property worth Rs Rs.7.97 crore by abusing his official position as minister in state governments led by Madhu Koda and Shibu Soren between September 2006 and January 2009.

ED informed high court that even while investigation was on, it was found that Shahi sold off immovable property worth Rs 3.67 crore involved in the money laundering case. The ED had also told court that Shahi took the proceeds of rent of the ill-gotten immovable property that came under the ambit of the case.

Taking into account to these allegations, the high court refused Shahi bail.

Now, the Supreme Court had stripped Shahi of his last hope.

The ED has taken physical possession Shahi's immovable property in Gurgaon in the form of a business complex and acres at Hotwasi in Ranchi.

The CBI had earlier frozen several of his and his companies' bank accounts, which the ED has now attached.

Shahi apart, other accused include his cousin Santoshi Devi, nephew Prashant Kumar Singh, his then officer on special duty Uma Shankar Malviya, his Delhi-based business partner Ajay Kumar Singh and two frontal companies M/s Sonanchal Buildcon Private Ltd and Angesh Trading Co. Pvt Ltd.