Money Laundering Case | Allahabad HC Quashes ₹2.5 Crore Deposit Condition Imposed For Grant Of Anticipatory Bail

The Allahabad High Court recently quashed a condition imposed by a Special Anti-Corruption Court on an accused in a money laundering case, directing her to deposit a staggering ₹2.5 crore to secure anticipatory bail. 

A bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh granted relief to Meena Anand, taking note of the Supreme Court's various rulings against the imposition of onerous bail conditions.

The Court was essentially dealing with a plea moved by the accused challenging imposition of condition no. 1 by the Special Judge, Anti Corruption, CBI, Ghaziabad directing her to deposit ₹2.5 crore along with 10% simple interest (of the amount) per annum from 2018 within one month of the grant of anticipatory bail.

Before the HC, the Counsel for the accused-applicant contended that the object of imposing conditions was to secure the accused's attendance and not to ruin the applicant's business.

In support of her case, the counsel referred to the recent judgments of the Apex Court including its verdict in the cases of Bimla Tiwari vs State of Bihar 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 47 and Dilip Singh vs. State of Madhya Pradesh LL 2021 SC 31.

In these cases, the top court had asserted that a criminal court, exercising jurisdiction to grant bail/anticipatory bail, is not expected to act as a recovery agent to realize the dues of the complainant.

Taking note of the judgments referred to by the counsel for the accused applicant, the Court found Condition No. 1 of the anticipatory bail order to be unsustainable and quashed it.

Case title - Meena Anand vs. Directorate Of Enforcement Government Of India 2024 LiveLaw (AB) 243

Case citation: 2024 LiveLaw (AB) 243

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