The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea filed by senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan seeking bail in a fresh money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi transferred Khan's petition to the Allahabad High Court, requesting its Chief Justice to list the matter before a Division Bench on November 16.

The top court further directed the High Court to consider passing interim orders on Khan's bail plea on the same day.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Khan, alleged that the ED had acted with malafide intent, pointing out that Khan was arrested just as he was about to be released from jail.

"They just want me to be inside during the election," Sibal submitted on Khan's behalf.

The 78-year-old SP leader was produced before a special court in Ghaziabad on November 1 in connection with the money laundering case linked to the Jauhar Trust, Khan's counsel had earlier said.

The ED arrested Khan on October 31, shortly after he and his son Abdullah Azam Khan were released from Rampur jail on bail in a case involving allegations of possessing dual PAN cards.