Supreme Court Grants Interim Bail To Immigration Agent On Condition To Bring Back Youths Arrested By Bahamas Police

Hearing the SLP against the November, 2019 order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court denying regular bail, the bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan was of the view that the petitioner is entitled to be released on interim bail subject to such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the Trial Court, which may also include the condition that the petitioner shall make an effort to locate and bring back the children of the informant and he shall render all necessary assistance to the State as well as to the Union of India.

The bench, also comprising Justices R. Subhash Reddy and M. R. Shah, impleaded the Union of India through the Ministry of External Affairs as a respondent party. The bench ordered a copy of the petition to be served on the office of the Solicitor General, requiring him to take instructions in this behalf.

Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, for the petitioner, submitted that in pursuance of the earlier order of this Court dated 07.07.2020, the petitioner has already deposited Rs.40 lacs and has also made efforts to locate and bring back the children of the informant. He further submits that as per the information received, certain persons were arrested by Royal Bahamas Police in August, 2017 and the petitioner apprehends that the children may be in custody of Royal Bahamas Police Force.

It was advanced that the petitioner could not travel to Bahamas to find out the details of the children as air travel was not permitted.