Surabhi @ Surbhi Duhan v. Directorate of Enforcement

o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 1o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o 203o o o o o ooooooo ooooooCRM-M-7180-2026o(O&M)o o Mrs.oSurabhio@oSurbhioDuhanooooo o o o o o o o ....Petitionerooo V/so o DirectorateoofoEnforcement,othroughoitsoAssistantoDirector,oo ChandigarhoZonaloOffice-1,oChandigarho oo o o o o o ....Respondento Dateoofodecision:o07.08.2026o DateoofoUploadingo:o10.08.2026o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oVikramoChaudhri,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o Ms.oHargunoSandhu,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o o Mr.oSatyapaloJain,oAdditionaloSolicitoroGeneraloofoIndiaoo o o (throughoVideooConference)owithoo o o Ms.oMeghnaoMalik,oSenioroPaneloCounsel,o o o Mr.oRitika,oAdvocateoalongwithoo o o Mr.oVikash,oAssistantoDirector,oED.ooo *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(Oral)oo

1.o o Theo presento petitiono (hereinaftero referredo too aso 'petitiono ino hand')ohasobeenofiledobyotheopetitionero––oSurabhio@oSurbhioDuhanoforogranto oforegularobailoinoECIR/CDZO-I/17/2025odatedo18.09.2025oregisteredoundero theoPreventionoofoMoneyoLaunderingoAct,o2002o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso 'PMLA')o

2.o o Theo gravameno ofo theo allegationso set-upo ino ECIRo datedo

18.09.2025o ando prosecutiono complainto datedo 27.01.2026o filedo byo theo EnforcementoDirectorateoo(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'ED')oisothatotheoSurbhio Duhano (petitionero herein);oino activeo connivanceo witho co-accusedo Mahesho o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 2o o o ChandrashekharoShetye,oRishabhoDuhanoandoRahuloChookar;owasotheorealo owneroandoinocontroloofoM/soCertiszepoInnovationso(OPC)oPrivateoLimitedo whichowasoallegedlyousedotoorunoanoorganizedotransnationalocyber-fraudocallo centreotargetingocitizensoofotheoUnitedoStatesoofoAmerica.oTheoprosecutiono haso allegedo thato theo proceedso ofo crimeo amountingo too approximatelyo ₹25o croreso wereo generatedo througho theo saido operationso ando receivedo througho hawalaochannels.oItohasobeenofurtheroallegedothatotheoaccusedomanagedotheo financialo affairso ofo theo company,o handledo hawalao transactions,o witho theo assistanceo ofo hero brothero Rishabho Duhano ando fathero Krishano Lal,o routedo illicitofundsothroughoheroownoaccounts,othoseoofoherofamilyomembersoando thirdopartiesoandothereafterointegratedosuchofundsotooshowothemoasolegitimateo beforeoinvestingothemoinomovableoandoimmovableoassets.oFurthermore,otheo petitioneroisoalsooallegedotoohaveopaido₹8olakhoperomonthotooaopersonoinoaolawo enforcemento agencyo foro protectiono ando unhinderedo operationo ofo theo callo centreoactivities.oAsoperotheoED,otheopetitionerohasoknowinglyoparticipatedoino theoconcealment,opossession,oacquisition,ouseoandoprojectionoofoproceedsoofo crimeoandotherebyocommittedotheooffenceoofomoneyolaunderingopunishableo underoSectionso3oando4oreadowithoSectiono70oofotheoPMLA.o RivaloSubmissionso

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitioner;o ledo byo Shri.o Vikramo Chaudhri,oSenioroAdvocate);ohasoarguedothatotheopetitioneroisoaowomanoagedo 29oyearsoandohasobeenoundulyoarrestedobyoEDowithoundueohaste.oLearnedo counselohasourgedothat,osinceotheopetitioneroisoaowoman,otheobailopleaoofotheo petitionero(herein)oisonotorequiredotoomeetowithotheorigorsoofoSectiono45oofo 2026.08.10g15:36 PMLAoandotheotwinoconditionsoprescribedounderoSectiono45(1)(ii)oofotheoActo o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 3o o o areonotoapplicableotooheroinotheosameomanneroasotheyowouldobeoapplicableotoo anoaccusedonotocoveredobyotheoproviso.oItohasobeenofurtherocontendedothatotheo petitionero haso noo connectiono whatsoevero witho theo allegedo offendingo callo centreooroitsobusinessoactivities.oAccordingotoolearnedoseniorocounsel,otheo petitionerowasoneitheroassociatedowithotheocompanyonorohasoanyoroleoinoitso day-to-dayo affairs,o financialo transactionso oro businesso operations.o Furthermore,otheoimplicationoofotheopetitioneroisobasedoprimarilyouponotheo disclosureostatementoofoaoco-accused,owhooallegedlyohasoaopersonalogrudgeo againstoher.oAccordingotoolearnedoseniorocounsel,osuchoaostatement,owithouto independentoandoreliableocorroboration,ocannotoconstituteosufficientomaterialo toojustifyoherocontinuedoincarceration.ooItohasobeenofurtherocontendedothato thereoisonoodocumentaryomaterialoonorecordotooestablishothatotheopetitionero wasoeitheroaopartneroorodirectorooroauthorisedosignatoryoofotheoallegedoillegalo entity,onamelyoM/soCertisoIToServices.oMoreover,othereoisonoorentoagreement,o partnershipodeed,obankomandateoorootheroindependentodocumentoconnectingo theo petitionero witho theo saido illegalo entity.o Learnedo senioro counselo haso emphasizedothatotheocaseoagainstotheopetitionerorestsosubstantiallyouponooralo statementsoandouncorroboratedoallegations.o o o Learnedo senioro counselohaso furthero urgedo thatotheo petitioner,o beforeoheroarrest,ohadobeenocooperatingowithotheoEDoasoandowhenocalledo upono &o thus,o thereo waso noo occasiono foro EDo too takeo theo petitionero intoo custody.oMoreso,otheoprosecutionocomplaintoalreadyostandsofiledoagainstotheo petitionero ono 27.01.2026o ando henceo theo investigationo quao theo petitionero alreadyostandsoconcluded.oo o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 4o o o o o LearnedoseniorocounselohasofurtherourgedothatotheoEDohasocitedo 73owitnessesoandohasoreliedoupono111odocumentsorunningointoo6728opageso whereasotheotrialoisostilloatotheopre-cognizanceostage.oo o o Learnedoseniorocounselohasofurtherourgedothatotheopetitionerohado nooroleotooplayoinotheooffendingocalloCentreoCompanyoandowasoneveroevero associatedowithotheosameomuchlessobeingoinvolvedoinoeffectivelyorunningotheo same.ooo o o Learnedoseniorocounselohasofurtheroarguedothatotheostatemento underoSectiono50oofoPMLAocannotobeoreadoagainstotheopetitionero(herein).ooIto hasobeenofurtherourgedothatotheopetitionerohasobeenodiagnosedowithoPelvico Inflammatoryo Diseaseo (PID),o candidalo infectiono ando recurrent/chronico vaginaloinfection.oo o o Learnedoseniorocounselohasofurtheroiteratedothatotheoarrestoofotheo petitioneroisocontraryotootheomandatoryosafeguardsocontainedoinoSectiono19oofo theo PMLA.o Ito haso beeno arguedo thato theo authorisedo officero musto possesso sufficientomaterialoandomustorecordoreasonsotoobelieve,oinowriting,othatotheo personosoughtotoobeoarrestedoisoguiltyoofoanooffenceopunishableounderotheo PMLA.oMereosuspicion,oallegedonon-cooperationooroevasiveoanswersodoonoto satisfyotheostatutoryothresholdoprescribedounderoSectiono19oofotheoPMLA.o o o Learnedoseniorocounselohasofurtherourgedothatotheopetitioneroiso neitheroinoaopositionotooinfluenceotheoprosecutionowitnessesonoroisocapableoofo influencingotheocourseoofotrialoinoanyomanner.oo o o Onotheseogrounds,otheograntoofopetitionoinohandoisoentreatedofor.oo

4.o o Respondent-EDohasofiledoreplyodatedo20.04.2026oopposingotheo 2026.08.10g15:36 petitionoinohand.ooLearnedocounseloforoED;oledobyoShrioSatyapaloJain,oSenioro o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 5o o o Advocate/AdditionaloSolicitoroGeneraloofoIndia;owhileoraisingosubmissionso inotandemowithotheosaidoreply,ohasodrawnotheoattentionoofothisoCourtotootheo specificoroleoofotheopetitioneroasopleadedoinotheoreply,orelevantowhereoforeadso thus:o o "RoleoofoMrs.oSurbhioDuhan:o o a.oMs.oSurbhioDuhanowasoarrestedoono16.12.2025obyotheoComplainanto Directorateo ino Chandigarho followingo dueo processo ofo law.o Sheo waso producedobeforeotheoHon'bleoSpecialoCourt,oPanchkulaoono17.12.2025.o TheoHon'bleoCourt,ovideoitsoorderodatedo17.12.2025,oremandedoherotootheo custodyoofotheoDirectorateoofoEnforcementoforosevenodays,owithodirectiono tooproduceoherobeforeotheoHon'bleoCourtoono24.12.2025oato02:00oPM.oIno pursuanceoofotheoorderotheoaccusedowasoproducedoono24.12.2025obeforeo theoHon'bleoCourt.oFurther,obyoorderodatedo24.12.2025oofotheoHon'bleo Court,o Ms.o Surbhio waso sento too judicialo custody,o ando theo accusedo iso currentlyoinojudicialocustody.o o b.oThatoasoperoheroownosubmissionsoinotheostatementou/so50oofoPMLA,o2002o ono 16/12/2025,o sheo remainedo abscondingo sinceo 25.08.2025o tillo

15.12.2025,osinceowhenotheoPoliceostartedocrackingodownotheoillegaloCALLo CENTRE.o Othero maino accusedo Mahesh,o employeeso ando hero fathero Sh.o KrishanoLaloDuhanohaveoadmittedothatosheohadokeyoroleoinotheorunningoofo theoillegalocallocenteroandoinomanagingotheofinancesoandoPOCogeneratedo outoofotheoillegalobusiness.oItoisonoocoincidenceothatosheohadoremainedo abscondingoandountraceableosinceothatotheocrackdownoofotheocase.o o c.o Thato theo arresteeo Mrs.o Surbhio Duhano alongo witho hero othero associates/partnersoMaheshoChanderoShekaroShetyeoandoRishabhoDuhan,o whoo wereo operatingo ao fakeo callo centero undero theo nameo M/so Certiszepo Innovationso(OPC)oPrivateoLimitedoato2ndoFloor,oPlotoNo.o7,oSectoro22,oITo Park,o Panchkulao withouto obtainingo anyo DoTo licence,o mandatoryo guidelines,ooroclientoagreements.oTheyousedoX-Liteodialers,oEyebeam,oando remote-accessosoftwareotooinduceoforeignonationalsointoobelievingofalseo technicalo problemso ando therebyo dishonestlyo cheatedo them.o Theo investigationo furthero stateso thato theo illicito amountso wereo siphonedo offo throughoBitcoinoandoCashAppogiftocards,oandothatotheoproceedsoofocrimeo generatedoinotheoUnitedoStatesowereotransferredotooIndiaothroughoaohawalao network,oeventuallyoreachingoheropersonaloaccounts,oaccountsoofofamilyo 2026.08.10g15:36 membersoandoinotheoaccountsooforelatedopersons/firmsoinocash.o o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 6o o o o d.oDuringoinvestigationounderoPMLA,o2002,oitohasobeenounearthedothato chatsocontainingohawalaorelatedochatsobetweenoMaheshoandoMs.oSurbhio haveobeenofoundoandothatoMrs.oSurbhiowasoinocontinuousocommunicationo witho Mahesho Chandershekaro Shetyeo regardingo casho pickups,o hawalao transactions,oandodiscussionoofoprofitosharingobetweenoMahesh,oRishabho andoSurbhi.oThereowereoalsoochatsoaboutopoliceoprotectiono(PP)obetweeno SurbhioandoMaheshoinotheochatsoindicatingothatobothoMaheshoandoSurbhio wereohandoinogloveoinorunningotheoillegalocallocentreoincludingomanagingo theoprofits,omanagingotheoproceedsoofocrimeoreceivedothroughohawalaoando distributionoofosalariesotootheostaff.oMaheshoduringoinvestigationoundero PMLAohasoalsooadmittedothatoaosignatureofoundoinotheowhatsappochatso belongsotoohimoandoSurbhi.o o e.oTheoproceedsoofocrimeogeneratedofromoorganizedotransnationalocyber-fraudooperationsowereoprimarilyoreceivedoinocashoandolargelyoutilizedoino casho itself.o However,o ono severalo occasions,o theo accusedo deliberatelyo routedoandore-oroutedotheoproceedsoofocrimeoforotheopurposeoofoplacemento orointroductionointootheofinancialosystem,ofollowedobyolayeringowithotheo intento too concealo ando ultimatelyo integrateo theo saido proceeds,o therebyo projectingothemoasountaintedoandoutilizingotheosameoforotheoacquisitionooro purchaseoofomovableoandoimmovableoassets.oProceedsoofocrimeotootheotuneo ofo25ocroresowereogeneratedofromotheooperationsoofocallocenterounderotheo nameo Certiszepo Innovationso (OPC)o Privateo Limitedo foro itso operationso fromoJune,o2024otootilloAugust,o2025.oOutoofotheosaidoamount,oMs.oSurbhio Duhano iso ino possessiono ofo approximatelyo 8-9o crore,o whicho iso stillo recoverable.o o f.oUponoexaminingotheobankoaccountsoofoSurbhioDuhanoandoheroFamilyo membersoMrsoMeenaoDevi,oKrishanoLaloandoRishabhoitohasobeenoobservedo thatotheoproceedsoofocrime-receivedoinocashothroughotheohawalaonetworko afterodupingoUSocitizens-owereoroutedothroughodifferentomodusooperandio inotheobankoaccountsoofothemoandoeventuallyointegratedoinotheoformoofo investmentsoasoexplainedoabove.o o g.oInoviewoofotheoabove,oSurbhioisoclearlyoinvolvedoinogenerationoofotheo POCosinceo2021obyocheatingoandodefraudingotheopersonsobasedoatoforeigno countriesovizoUSAoetc.oSurbhioisotheokeyopersonoinvolvedoinomanagingotheo POCoreceivedothroughoHawalaochannelsoandoasoperotheosubmissionoofotheo oneoofotheoaccusedoMaheshoShetyeonotoonlyohasosheoearnedoasoatoleasto8-9o Cr.oofotheoPOCoandohasoconcealedotheosameobyogettingoitodepositedointoo AJAYgKUMAR variousobankoaccountsoabettedobyoherofatheroSh.oKrishanoLaloDuhanoaso o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 7o o o knownotillonowobutohadoalsooabscondedowithoaroundo3.25ocrocashoinopasto fewomonths,otheowhereaboutsoofotheocashoareounknownoatothisostage.o o h.oTherefore,otheoinvestigationorevealsoaoclearoroleoofotheoarresteeoMrs.o SurbhioDuhanoinocommissionoofotheooffenceoofomoneyolaunderingou/so3o readowithoSectiono4oofotheoPMLA.o o i.oDuringocustody,oMrs.oSurbhioDuhanoadmittedothatosheohadoabscondedo fromotheopoliceofromo25.08.2025otillo15.12.2025.oSheofurtheroadmittedothato duringothisoabscondingoperiod,otheyodeliberatelyoavoidedoprovidingotheiro genuineoidentityodocumentsowhileostayingoatovariousohotelsoandoinsteado usedofakeoidentityodocumentsoforotheopurposeoofohoteloaccommodation.o o j.oRegardingoherosourceoofoincomeoandotransfers/transactionsofromohero accountsowhichowereoreceivedoinoheroaccountothroughothirdopartiesobyo depositingocashoinotheiroaccounts,osheocouldonotogiveoanyosatisfactorilyo answers.oSheoadmittedothatosheohadonoolegitimateosourceoofoincome.o o k.o Concerningo hero associationo witho Certiszepo Innovationso (OPC)o Pvt.o Ltd.,osituatedoato2ndoFloor,oPlotoNo.o7,oSector-o22,oIToPark,oPanchkula,o Mrs.oSurbhioDuhanocategoricallyodeniedohavingoanyoconnectionowithotheo saidocallocentre.oHowever,ostatementsoofoemployeesoofotheosaidocallocentre,o recordedounderoSectiono50oofotheoPMLA,o2002,oclearlyocontradictedohero claim.o Theo employeeso ino theiro statementso confirmedo theo controlo ando managementoofoMrs.oSurbhioDuhanoitowasosubmittedobyotheoemployeesothato sheo waso theo ownero ofo theo callo centreo ando waso activelyo involvedoino itso operationsoandodayotoodayoaffairs.oTheyofurtherostatedothatosheomanagedo alloexpensesoofotheocallocentre,opersonallyobroughtocashoforodisbursemento ofosalariesotooemployees,oandoconsistentlyoemphasizedoincreasingosaleso andoperformanceoofotheocallocentre.o o 1.o Ito iso revealedo duringo investigationo thato M/so Certiszepo Innovationso

(OPC)oPrivateoLimitedowasofraudulentlyoincorporatedoinotheonameoofoao mereo name-lender,o byo deceivingo Sh.o Purushottamo Mishra,o witho theo deliberateo intento ofo concealingo theo realo ownership,o control,o ando managemento ofo theo company,o whicho ino facto vestedo witho Sh.o Mahesho ChandrashekaroShetyeoandoMs.oSurbhioDuhan,owhoowereotheobeneficialo ownersoandopersonsoino controloofotheoaffairsoofotheocompanyosinceoitso inception.o Therefore,o Shrio Mahesho Chandrashekaro Shetyeo ando theo petitionerohereinowereotheobeneficialoowners,oandowasoinochargeoandowaso responsibleo too ando controllerso ofo M/so Certiszepo Innovationso (OPC)o PrivateoLimited.oDuringotheoperiodoinowhichotheooffenceowasocommitted.o AJAYgKUMAR Ms.o Surbhio alsoo compelledo Sh.o Purushottamo Mishra,o undero threato ando o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 8o o o pressure,otooobtainoanoAirteloSIMocardo(8968880205)oinohisonameoforohero use,owhichowasosubsequentlyousedobyoheroforohawala-relatedotransactions.o o m.oTherefore,ofromotheoinvestigationoconductedounderotheoprovisionsoofo PMLA,o2002,oitohasobeenofoundothatotheoMrs.oSurbhioDuhanohasobeeno directlyoandoknowinglyoinvolvedoinotheoprocessooroactivityoofogenerationoofo proceedsoofocrimeofromocommissionoofoscheduledooffenceoandocriminalo activitiesorelatingothereto.oProsecutionoComplaintoagainstotheopetitionero hasobeenofiledobyotheoDepartmentoprovingoguiltoofotheoPetitioner."o o o Learnedo Additionalo Solicitoro Generalo ofo Indiao haso furthero contendedothatomerelyobecauseotheofactothatotheopetitioneroisoaowomanodoeso notovestoanoindefeasibleorightoinoherofavouroforograntooforegularobailoinoano offenceoasoisoinvolvedoinotheopetitionoinohand.oItohasobeenofurtherourgedothato theo petitionero (herein)o waso havingo ano activeo roleo intoo theo offendingo -o companyoinoquestion.ooFurther,oitohasobeenoarguedothatotheopetitioner,oono accounto ofo hero deepo involvemento witho theo offendingo company,o iso ino ao positiono too influenceo theo courseo ofo trialo byo exertingo pressureo etco ono theo witnesses.ooo o o Itohasobeenofurtherourgedothatotheopetitionero(herein)oposesoao flight-risk,oasosheoisolikelyotooabscondofromotheoprocessoofojustice,oinocaseosheo isoaffordedotheoconcessionooforegularobail.oo o o LearnedoseniorocounseloforotheoEDohasofurtherourgedothatotheo petitioneroisonotosufferingofromoanyosuchoadverseomedicalocondition(s)oono accounto ofo whicho regularo bailo cano beo affordedo too hero &o theo concernedo authoritiesoareowellotakingocareoofotheomedicalorequirementsoofotheopetitionero (herein)oinoaccordanceowitholaw.ooo o o Thus,odismissaloofotheopetitionoinohandoisocanvassedofor.oo o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 9o o o

5.o o Iohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandohaveo goneothroughotheoavailableorecordoofotheocase.o PrimeoIssueo

6.o o Theoprimeoissueothatoarisesoforodeterminationoinotheopetitionoino handoisoasotoowhetherotheopetitionero(herein)ooughtotoobeograntedoregularobail.oo o o Theoseminalolegaloissueothatoarisesoforocogitationoisoasotoowhato areotheoparametersoforograntingoregularobailotooaowomano–oaccusedounderotheo PMLA.oo

7.o o Relevantostatutoryoprovisionso I.o o Sectiono45oofoPreventionoofoMoneyoLaunderingoAct,o2002o o o (PMLA)o o "45.o Offenceso too beo cognisableo ando non-bailable.o ––o (1)o [NotwithstandingoanythingocontainedoinotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o 1973o(2oofo1974),onoopersonoaccusedoofoanooffenceo[underothisoAct]oshallo beoreleasedoonobailooroonohisoownobondounlesso––o]o o o (i)otheoPublicoProsecutorohasobeenogivenoanoopportunityotooopposeo theoapplicationoforosuchorelease;oando o o (ii)o whereo theo Publico Prosecutoro opposeso theo application,o theo Courtoisosatisfiedothatothereoareoreasonableogroundsoforobelievingothatoheo isonotoguiltyoofosuchooffenceoandothatoheoisonotolikelyotoocommitoanyooffenceo whileoonobail:o o o Providedothatoaoperson,owhooisounderotheoageoofosixteenoyearsooroiso aowomanooroisosickooroinfirm,o[oroisoaccusedoeitheroonohisoownooroalongo withootheroco-accusedoofomoney-launderingoaosumoofolessothanooneocroreo rupees]omayobeoreleasedoonobail,oifotheoSpecialoCourtosoodirects:o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o (2)o Theo limitationo ono grantingo ofo bailo specifiedo ino [***]ooofo sub-sectiono (1)o iso ino additiono too theo limitationso undero theo Codeo ofo CriminaloProcedure,o1973o(2oofo1974)ooroanyootherolawoforotheotimeobeingo inoforceoonograntingoofobail.o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o AJAYgKUMAR o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxx"o o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 10o o o II.o o Sectiono437oofoTheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973ooo o o (hereinafteroreferredotooaso'Cr.oP.C.,o1973')o o "437.oWhenobailomayobeotakenoinocaseoofonon-bailableooffence.o–o o o (1)oWhenoanyopersonoaccusedoof,oorosuspectedoof,otheocommissiono ofoanyonon-bailableooffenceoisoarrestedoorodetainedowithoutowarrantobyoano officeroinochargeoofoaopoliceostationooroappearsooroisobroughtobeforeoao CourtootherothanotheoHighoCourtooroCourtoofoSession,oheomayobeoreleasedo onobail,obuto–o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o ProvidedothatotheoCourtomayodirectothatoaopersonoreferredotooino clauseo(i)ooroclauseo(ii)obeoreleasedoonobailoifosuchopersonoisounderotheoageo ofosixteenoyearsooroisoaowomanooroisosickooroinfirmo:o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxx"o III.oo o Sectiono480oofoTheoBharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o o o 2023o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'BNSS,o2023')o o "480.oWhenobailomayobeotakenoinocaseoofonon-bailableooffence.o––o(1)o Whenoanyopersonoaccusedoof,oorosuspectedoof,otheocommissionoofoanyonon-bailableooffenceoisoarrestedoorodetainedowithoutowarrantobyoanoofficeroino chargeoofoaopoliceostationooroappearsooroisobroughtobeforeoaoCourtoothero thanotheoHighoCourtooroCourtoofoSession,oheomayobeoreleasedoonobail,obut-o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o ProvidedothatotheoCourtomayodirectothatoaopersonoreferredotooino clauseo(i)ooroclauseo(ii)obeoreleasedoonobailoifosuchopersonoisoaochildooroisoao womanooroisosickooroinfirm:o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxx"o RelevantoCaseoLawo

8.o o Theoprecedentsogermaneotootheoissuesoinoquestionoare,othus:oo I.o o Granto ofo regularo bailo too ao womano –o accusedo undero theo o Cr.P.C.,o1973o o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 11o o o

(i)o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoasoPrahlado SinghoBhatiovs.oNCT,oDelhioandoanother,o(2001)o4oSupremeoCourtoCaseso 280;ohasoheldoasounder:o o "5.o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxo undero Sectiono 437o ofo theo Codeo wheno ao personoaccusedoof,oorosuspectedoofotheocommissionoofoanyonon-bailableo offenceoisoarrestedoorodetainedowithoutowarrantobyoanoofficeroinochargeoofo ao policeo stationo oro appearso oro iso broughto beforeo ao court,o heo mayo beo releasedo ono bailo byo ao courto othero thano theo Higho Courto ando Sessionso subjectotootheoconditionothatoheodoesonotoreasonablyoappearotoohaveobeeno guiltyoofoanooffenceopunishableowithodeathooroimprisonmentoforolife.ooTheo conditionoofonotoreleasingotheopersonoonobailochargedowithoanooffenceo punishableowithodeathooroimprisonmentoforolifeoshallonotobeoapplicableoifo suchopersonoisounderotheoageoofo16oyearsooroisoaowomanooroisosickooro infirm,o subjecto too sucho conditionso aso mayo beo imposed.o o Ito doeso not,o however,omeanothatopersonsospecifiedoinotheofirstoprovisootoosub-sectiono

(1)oofoSectiono437oshouldonecessarilyobeoreleasedoonobail.ooTheoprovisooiso anoenablingoprovisionowhichoconfersojurisdictionouponoaocourt,ootherothano theoHighoCourtoandotheoCourtoofoSessions,otooreleaseoaopersonoonobailo despiteotheofactothatothereoappearsoreasonableogroundoforobelievingothato sucho persono haso beeno guiltyo ofo ano offenceo punishableo witho deatho oro imprisonmento foro life.o o Thereo iso noo gainsayingo thato theo discretiono conferredobyotheoCodeohasotoobeoexercisedojudicially.ooxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"oo

(ii)o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoasoSatendero KumaroAntilovs.oCentraloBureauoofoInvestigationoandoanother,o(2022)o10o SupremeoCourtoCaseso51;ohasoheldoasounder:o o "69.o .Provisoo tooSectiono 437oofo theo Codeo mandateso thato wheno theo accusedo iso undero theo ageo ofo sixteeno years,o sicko oro infirmo oro beingo ao woman,oisosomethingowhichoisorequiredotoobeotakenonoteoof.oObviously,otheo courtohasotoosatisfyoitselfothatotheoaccusedopersonoisosickooroinfirm.oInoao caseopertainingotoowomen,otheocourtoisoexpectedotooshowosomeosensitivity.o Weohaveoalreadyotakenonoteoofotheofactothatomanyowomenowhoocommito cognizableooffencesoareopooroandoilliterate.oInomanyocases,ouponobeingo youngotheyohaveochildrenotootakeocareoof,oandothereoareomanyoinstanceso 2026.08.10g15:36 whenotheochildrenoareotooliveoinoprisons.oTheostatisticsowouldoshowothato o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 12o o o moreothano1000ochildrenoareolivingoinoprisonsoalongowithotheiromothers.o Thisoisoanoaspectothatotheocourtsoareoexpectedotootakeonoteoofoasoitowouldo notoonlyoinvolveotheointerestoofotheoaccused,obutoalsootheochildrenowhooareo notoexpectedotoogetoexposedotootheoprisons.oThereoisoaograveodangeroofo theirobeingoinheritedonotoonlyowithopovertyobutowithocrimeoasowell.o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o 78.o Sectiono437oofotheoCodeoempowersotheoMagistrateotoodealowithoallo theooffencesowhileoconsideringoanoapplicationoforobailowithotheoexceptiono ofoanooffenceopunishableoeitherowitholifeoimprisonmentoorodeathotriableo exclusivelyobyotheoCourtoofoSessions.oTheofirstoprovisoofacilitatesoaocourtotoo conditionallyoreleaseoonobailoanoaccusedoifoheoisounderotheoageoofo16oyearso oroisoaowomanooroisosickooroinfirm,oasodiscussedoearlier.oThisobeingoao welfareo legislation,o thougho introducedo byo wayo ofo ao proviso,o hasotoo beo appliedowhileoconsideringoreleaseoonobailoeitherobyotheoCourtoofoSessionso orotheoHighoCourt,oasotheocaseomayobe.oTheopowerounderoSectiono439oofo theoCodeoisoexercisedoagainstoanoorderorejectingoanoapplicationoforobailo ando againsto ano offenceo exclusivelyo decidedo byo theo Courto ofo Sessions.o ThereocannotobeoaodividedoapplicationoofoprovisootooSectiono437,owhileo exercisingo theo powero underoSectiono 439.o Whileo dealingo witho ao welfareo legislation,o ao purposiveo interpretationo givingo theo benefito too theo needyo personobeingotheointendmentoisotheoroleorequiredotoobeoplayedobyotheocourt.o Weodoonotowishotoostateothatothisoprovisoohasotoobeoconsideredofavourablyo inoallocasesoasotheoapplicationodependsouponotheofactsoandocircumstanceso containedotherein.oWhatoisorequiredoisotheoconsiderationoperoseobyotheo courtoofothisoprovisooamongootherofactors."o II.o o Grantooforegularobailotooaowomano–oaccusedounderotheoPMLA,o o o 2002o o(i)o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaoJudgmentotitledoasoSaumyao Chaurasiaovs.oDirectorateoofoEnforcement,o(2024)o6oSupremeoCourtoCaseso 401;ohasoheldoasounder:o o "23.oTheouseoofotheoexpressiono"mayobe"oinotheofirstoprovisootooSectiono 45oclearlyoindicatesothatotheobenefitoofotheosaidoprovisootootheocategoryoofo personsomentionedothereinomayobeoextendedoatotheodiscretionoofotheoCourto consideringotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofoeachocase,oandocouldonotobeoAJAYgKUMAR o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 13o o o construedo aso ao mandatoryo oro obligatoryo ono theo parto ofo theo Courto too releaseo them.o Similaro benevolento provisiono foro grantingo bailo too theo categoryoofopersonsobelowotheoageoofosixteenoyears,owomen,osickooroinfirmo hasobeenomadeoinoSectiono437oCr.P.C.oandomanyootherospecialoenactmentso also,o howevero byo noo stretcho ofo imaginationo couldo sucho provisiono beo construedo aso obligatoryo oro mandatoryo ino nature,o otherwiseo allo seriouso offencesounderosuchospecialoActsowouldobeocommittedoinvolvingowomeno andopersonsoofotenderoageobelowo16oyears.oNoodoubtotheocourtsoneedotoobeo moreosensitiveoandosympatheticotowardsotheocategoryoofopersonsoincludedo inotheofirstoprovisootooSectiono45oandosimilaroprovisionsoinotheootheroActs,o aso theo personso ofo tendero ageo ando womeno whoo areo likelyo too beo moreo vulnerable,omayosometimesobeomisusedobyotheounscrupulousoelementsoando madeoscapegoatsoforocommittingosuchocrimes,ononetheless,otheocourtsoalsoo shouldonotobeoobliviousotootheofactothatonowadaysotheoeducatedoandowello placedo womeno ino theo societyo engageo themselveso ino theo commercialo ventureso ando enterprises,o ando advertentlyo oro inadvertentlyo engageo themselvesoinoillegaloactivities.oInoessence,otheocourtsoshouldoexerciseotheo discretionojudiciouslyousingotheiroprudence,owhileograntingotheobenefitoofo theofirstoprovisootooSectiono45oPMLAotootheocategoryoofopersonsomentionedo therein.oTheoextentoofoinvolvementoofotheopersonsofallingoinosuchocategoryo ino theo allegedo offences,o theo natureo ofo evidenceo collectedo byo theo investigatingoagencyoetc.,owouldobeomaterialoconsiderations."o

(ii)o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao Judgmento titledo aso Directorateo ofoEnforcemento vs.o PreetioChandra,o 2023o SCCo OnLineo SCo 930;ohasoheldoasounder:o o "2.o oTheoprovisootooSectiono45oofotheoPreventionoofoMoneyoLaunderingo Acto 2002o conferso ao discretiono ono theo Courto too granto bailo whereo theo accusedo iso ao woman.o Similaro provisionso ofoSectiono 437oofo theo Codeo ofo CriminaloProcedureo1973ohaveobeenointerpretedobyothisoCourtotoomeano thatotheostatutoryoprovisionodoesonotomeanothatopersonospecifiedoinotheo firsto provisoo too sub-sectiono (1)o ofo Sectiono 437o shouldo necessarilyo beo releasedo ono bail.o [seeoPrahlado Singho Bhatio vso NCT,o Delhio ando Anothero(2001)o4oSCCo280].o o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 14o o o

(iii)o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao Judgmento titledo aso KalvakuntlaoKavithaovs.oDirectorateoofoEnforcement,o2024oSCCoOnLineo SCo2269;ohasoheldoasounder:o o "o14.oo WeoareofurtheroofotheoviewothatotheoprovisootooSectiono45(1)oofotheo PMLAowouldoentitleoaowomanoforospecialotreatmentowhileoheroprayeroforo bailoisobeingoconsidered.o o 15.oo TheosaidoprovisootooSectiono45(1)oofotheoPMLAoreadsothus:-o o "Providedothatoaoperson,owho,oisounderotheoageoofosixteenoyears,ooro isoaowomanooroisosickooroinfirm,ooroisoaccusedoeitheroonohisoownooro alongowithootheroco-oaccusedoofomoney-launderingoaosumoofolesso thano oneo croreo rupees,o mayo beo releasedo ono bail,o ifo theo specialo courtosoodirects:"o o 16.oo Aoperusaloofotheoaboveoprovisoowouldothusorevealothatotheoprovisoo permitsocertainocategoryoofoaccusedoincludingowomanotoobeoreleasedoono bail,owithoutotheotwinorequirementounderoSectiono45oofotheoPMLAotoobeo satisfied.oNoodoubtothat,oasoarguedobyotheolearnedoASG,oinoaogivenocaseotheo accusedoevenoifoaowomanomayonotobeoautomaticallyoentitledotoobenefitoofo theosaidoprovisooandoitowouldoallodependouponotheofactsoandocircumstanceso ofoeachocase.o o 17.oo However,owhenoaostatuteospecificallyoprovidesoaospecialotreatmento foroaocertainocategoryoofoaccused,owhileodenyingosuchoaobenefit,otheoCourto willobeorequiredotoogiveospecificoreasonsoasotoowhyosuchoaobenefitoisotoobeo denied.o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o 24.oo AoperusaloofotheojudgmentoofothisoCourtoinotheocaseoofoSaumyao Chaurasiao(supra)o wouldo showo thato thiso Courto haso observedo thato theo Courtsoneedotoobeomoreosensitiveoandosympatheticotowardsotheocategoryoofo personso includedo ino theo firsto provisoo tooSectiono 45oofo theo PMLAo ando similaroprovisionsoinotheootheroActs.oTheoCourtoobservesothatotheopersonso ofo tendero ageo ando womeno whoo areo likelyo too beo moreo vulnerableo mayo sometimesobeomisusedobyounscrupulousoelementsoandomadeoscapegoatsoforo committingosuchocrime.o o 25.oo NoodoubtothatothisoCourtoobservesothatonowadaysotheoeducatedoando well-placedo womeno ino theo societyo engageo themselveso ino commercialo ventureso ando enterpriseso ando advertentlyo oro inadvertentlyo engageo Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand themselvesoinotheoillegaloactivities.oTheoCourtothereforeoputsoaocautionothato o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 15o o o theoCourts,owhileodecidingosuchomatters,oshouldoexerciseotheodiscretiono judiciouslyousingotheiroprudence.o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxx"o

(iv)o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courtoino aoJudgmentotitledo asoShashio Balao @o Shashio Balao Singho vs.o Directorateo ofo Enforcement,o Criminalo AppealoNo.212oofo2025,odecidedoono15.01.2025;ohasoheldoasounder:o o o "Asorigoursoofoclauseo(ii)oofosub-Sectiono(1)oofoSectiono45oofotheo PMLAo willo noto apply,o theo Specialo Courto oughto too haveo treatedo theo applicationo aso theo oneo undero Sectiono 439o ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o1973o(foroshort,o"Cr.P.C.")ooroSectiono483oofotheoBhartiyao NagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o(foroshort,o"BNSS").ooHence,otheofirsto provisootoosub-Sectiono(1)oofoSectiono437oofotheoCr.P.C.o(theofirstoprovisoo toosub-Sectiono(1)oofoSectiono480oofotheoBNSS)owilloapply."o Analysiso(reolaw)o

9.o o Personalolibertyoisonotoaomereostatutoryoconcessionoconferredobyo stateo benevolence,o buto ano inalienable,o naturalo righto intrinsico too humano existence,o servingo aso theo foundationalo prerequisiteo foro allo othero civilo liberties.o Withino ouro constitutionalo paradigm,o Articleo 21o doeso noto createo liberty;orather,oitoenshrinesoanoinviolableosanctuaryoagainstoarbitraryostateo intrusion,o demandingo thato anyo deprivationo ofo individualo freedomo musto satisfyotheotripartiteotestoofolegality,oreasonableness,oandoproceduralofairness.o Inotheorealmoofopenaloprocedure,othisotripartiteotestoaimsoatoensuringothatopre-trialodetentionomustoneverodegenerateointoopunitiveoincarceration;oitooperateso purelyoasoanoadohococustodialomeasureodesignedotoosecureotheoattendanceoofo theo accusedo atotrial,o preventotheotamperingoofoevidenceopario passuo,oando preserveo theo integrityo ofo theo judicialo processo withouto subvertingo theo AJAYgKUMAR fundamentalomaximoeioincumbitoprobation,oquiodicit,ononoquionegatoi.e.,otheo o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 16o o o burdeno ofo proofo lieso upono himo whoo affirms,o noto himo whoo denies.o Recognizingothatopre-trialoincarcerationoinflictsoaodisproportionateotolloupono classesoofoindividuals,oonoaccountoofotheirosocio-historicalopositioning,otheo legislatureo haso embeddedo statutoryo sanctuarieso withino proceduralo lawo too bridgeotheochasmobetweenoformaloequalityoandosubstantiveojustice.oWomeno accusedoofo non-bailableooffenseso areo frequentlyo subjectedo tooacuteosocialo excommunication,oheightenedocustodialovulnerabilities,oandotheodisruptionoofo primaryomaternaloobligations,owhichoelevatesothemotooaouniquelyoprecariouso position.o Too mitigateo theseo structuralo handicaps,o theo proceduralo regimeo historicallyomandatedoaohumaneoandoliberalojudicialoapproachounderotheofirsto provisootooSectiono437(1)oofotheoCr.P.C.,otheosignificanceowhereofocouldobeo fathomedo byo theo facto thato theo sameo haso beeno preservedo undero theo firsto provisootooSectiono480(1)oofotheoBNSS.oFarofromoconstitutingoanoarbitraryo legislativeoindulgence,othisobenevolentodispensationoisodeeplyorootedoinotheo constitutionaloarchitectureoofoprotectiveodiscriminationounderoArticleo15(3),o whichoexplicitlyoempowersotheoStateotooenactospecialoprovisionsoforowomeno ando children.o Theo constitutionaloscrutinyo recognizesothato formalo equality,o wheno appliedo too thoseo whoo areo situatedo unequally,o merelyo entrencheso existingostructuralodisadvantages.oViewedoinothatolight,otheseoaffirmativeobailo provisionso areonoto ano exceptionotoo Articleo 14,o buto ao manifestationoofoitso complementaryomandateoofoequaloprotectionoofolaws,ocaliberatedotooaccounto forosocio-institutionalorealities.oHowever,oitoisoimperativeotooobserveothatotheo legislativeostructuringoofothisogender-consciousoprotectionowithinoao'proviso';o rathero thano ao mandatoryo standaloneo provision,o holdso ao distincto legalo 2026.08.10g15:36 significance.oItosignifiesothatoitoisomerelyoanoenablingoprovisionothatoconferso o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 17o o o judicialo discretiono rathero thano ano imperativeo commando conferringo ano absoluteorightotoobailosolelyoonotheobasisoofogender.oAsoobservedobyotheo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Prahlado Singho Bhatio (supra)o thato provisoo too Sectiono437(1)oofotheoCr.P.C.o(nowoprovisootooSectiono480(1)oBNSS)oisonoto intendedoatoconferringoanoabsoluteorightoofobailouponoindividualsomentionedo therein.o Furthermore,o whileo interpretingo theo scopeo ofo provisoo too Sectiono 437(1)oCr.P.C.o(nowoprovisootooSectiono480(1)oBNSS),otheoHon'bleoSupremeo CourtoinoSatinderoKumaroAntilocategoricallyoobservedothatoapplicationoofo provisooandotheoconcessionothereinooughtonototoobeoextendedomechanicallyoino ano automatico manner,o rather,o aftero takingo intoo accounto othero attendingo circumstancesoandofactualoconspectus.o

10.o o Pertinently,o theo statutoryo schemeo governingo financialo crimeso underotheoPreventionoofoMoneyoLaunderingoAct,o2002o(PMLA)oreflectsoao rigorousolegislativeostrategyotoocombatotheowhite-collarocrimesoandopreserveo nationalo economico stability.o Recognizingo moneyo launderingo aso ao grave,o calculatedosocialoinjuryoratherothanoanoimpulsiveooffence,oSectiono45(1)oofo theoPMLAoprovidesoforoaohigherothresholdobyoimposingomandatoryo"twino conditions"o foro theo granto ofo bail.o Undero thiso generalo rule,o theo Courto iso statutorilyo constrainedo fromo enlargingo ano accusedo ono bailo unlesso theo prosecutiono iso affordedo ano opportunityo too opposeo theo pleao ando theo courto recordsoaopositiveojudicialosatisfactionothatothereoexistsoreasonableogroundsotoo believeothatotheoaccusedoisonotoguiltyoandoisounlikelyotoocommitoanyooffenceo whileo ono bail.o Thiso stringento operationalo frameworko reverseso theo conventionalopresumptionoofopre-trialoliberty,oandoestablishesodetentionoaso 2026.08.10g15:36 theonormotoopreventosystemicoeconomicodisruption.ooRecognizing,ohowever,o o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 18o o o thato ano unyieldingo applicationo ofo thiso statutoryo prohibitiono wouldo inflicto disproportionateohardshipoonocertainoclass(s)oofoindividuals,otheolegislatureo hasoprovidedoforoaoconcessionoinotheoformoofotheofirstoprovisootooSectiono 45(1)o ofo theo PMLA.o Havingo derivedo itso legitimacyo ino theo constitutionalo mandateo ofo protectiveo discriminationo undero Articleo 15(3),o thiso statutoryo provisoo carveso outo ao sanctuary,o foro specifiedo classes,o intero alia,o namely,o women.oAobareoperusaloofotheoprovisoorevealsothatotheolegislativeoobjectoofo thisoexceptionoisotoodispenseowithotheomandatoryoapplicationoofotheo"twino conditions"oforotheseoprotectedogroupsowhereverowarranted,oensuringothato proceduralo rigourso doo noto supersedeo substantiveo justice.o Ito is,o however,o pertinentotooemphasizeothatotheoprovisootooSectiono45(1)oPMLAoisointendedo toocarveooutoaolimitedoexceptionosolelyoinoregardotootheoapplicabilityoofotheo "twinoconditions";oitodoesonotoobliterateoorosupersedeotheobroaderoprincipleso governingobailojurisprudence.oTheoprovisooisonotodesignedoforoautomaticooro mechanicalo application,o noro doeso ito secureo ano absoluteo oro unconditionalo entitlementotoolibertyoforotheoindividualsoenumeratedotherein.oTheoconcessiono undero theo provisoo merelyo liftso theo statutoryo baro ofo meetingo theo "twino conditions",o whereupono allo othero factorso involvedo ino bailo jurisprudence;o includingobutonotolimitedoto,otheoprimaofacieostrengthoofotheoprosecutionocase,o theonatureo&oextentoofotheoroleoattributed,otheogravityoofotheooffence,otheo severityo ofo theo potentialo sentence,o flighto risk,o ando theo apprehensiono ofo witnesso tamperingo oro evidenceo suppression,o remaino fullyo attractedo ando operative.o

11.o o Theostatutoryouseoofotheopermissiveoauxiliaryoexpressiono"mayo 2026.08.10g15:36 be",oasoopposedotooanoimperativeocommandosuchoaso"shall",omanifestsothato o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 19o o o theo provisoo iso enablingo ino natureo ando conferso discretiono upono theo courto consideringo theo bailo plea,o rathero thano beingo ano imperativeo commando directingofororeleaseoonobail.oo o o Ito is,o however,o trueo thato theo interpretationo ofo theo statutoryo languageoreliesoonotheocontextualoanalysisoratherothanomechanicaloliteralism.o Whileotheochoiceobetweenotheotermso"shall"oando"may"oisonotoinherentlyo determinitiveoofowhetheroaoprovisionoisomandatoryoorodirectory,olegislativeo intentomustobeoinferredofromotheopreciseostatutoryocontextoinowhichotheseo auxiliaryoexpressionsoareoplaced.oWithinotheostatutoryoarchitectureoofoSectiono 45(1)o ofo PMLA,o theo maino provisiono employso theo mandatoryo imperativeo "shall"owhenostipulatingotheo"twinoconditions"oforobail.oThisochoiceoofowordo establisheso ao stringent,o non-discretionaryo statutoryo prohibitiono againsto enlargingoanoaccusedoonobailounlessotheoprosecutionoisoheardoandotheocourto recordso ao positiveo findingo ofo non-guilto ando non-propensityo too commito offences.oInocontrast,otheolegislatureodeliberatelyosubstitutedo"shall"owithotheo permissiveoauxiliaryoexpressiono"mayobe"owithinotheofirstoprovisootooSectiono 45(1).oThisointentionaloshiftoinonomenclatureoconfirmsothatotheoprovisoowaso enactedonototooimposeoaomandatoryocommand,obutotooconferoanoenabling,o judicialodiscretionouponotheocourt.oAsoobservedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeo CourtoinoPreetioChandrao(supra)oandore-iteratedoinoShashioBalao@oShashio BalaoSingho(supra),ofirstoprovisootooSectiono45(1)oofotheoPMLAoisosimilaroino nomenclatureoandointentotoothatoofoSectiono437(1)oCr.P.C.,oandoareomerelyo enablingoprovisions,oandodoonotomeanothatotheoclass(s)oofopersonospecifiedo therein,oshouldonecessarilyobeoreleasedoonobail.oo o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 20o o o

12.o o Itoisoaocardinaloprincipleoofostatutoryoconstructionothatoaoprovisoo mustobeoconstruedostrictlyoinorelationotootheoprincipaloenactmentotoowhichoito iso appended.o Ao provisoo doeso noto operateo aso ano independento substantiveo provisionoconferringostandaloneorights;orather,oitsolegalofunctionoisostrictlyo limitedotoocarvingooutoanoexceptionofromotheospecificofieldocoveredobyotheo mainobodyoofotheosection.oSince,otheomainobodyoofoSectiono45(1)oPMLAo dealso exclusivelyo witho theo impositiono ofo theo "twino conditions",o theo accompanyingoprovisoonecessarilyooperatesosolelyotooexemptotheospecifiedo categoriesoi.e.o women,o minors,o ando theo sicko oroinfirm,o fromo meetingo theo burdenoofothoseo"twinoconditions".oTheoprovisoocannotobeoextendedobeyondo itsostatutoryo officeotoogranto anyo broadero immunityooro createo ano absolute,o automaticoentitlementotoobail.oWhereoaoprovisionocreatesoanoexceptionotooao generaloruleoofostringency,osettledoprinciplesoofointerpretationodictateothato suchoaoderogationomustobeostatedocategoricallyoandocannotobeoexpandedobyo judicialoimplication.o

13.o o Ergo,o theo dispensationo grantedo undero theo firsto provisoo too Sectiono 45(1)o PMLAo merelyo liftso theo mandatoryo statutoryo prohibitiono imposedobyotheo"twinoconditions",oleavingoallootherofoundationaloprincipleso ofobailojurisprudenceofullyooperative.oTheouseoofo"mayobe"orestoresojudicialo discretion,orequiringotheocourtotooexerciseotheojurisdictionoforograntoofobailoono theobasisoofotheowellosettledoprinciples,ohavingoregardotootheocircumstancesoofo eachocaseoandonotoinoanoarbitraryomanner.oWhileograntingotheobail,otheocourto haso too keepo ino mind,o intero alia,o theo natureo ofo accusations,o theo natureo ofo evidenceoinosupportothereof,otheoseverityoofotheopunishmentowhichoconvictiono 2026.08.10g15:36 willoentail,otheocharacter,obehaviour,omeansoandostandingoofotheoaccused,o o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 21o o o circumstancesowhichoareopeculiarotootheoaccused,oreasonableopossibilityoofo securingotheopresenceoofotheoaccusedoatotheotrial,oreasonableoapprehensionoofo theowitnessesobeingotamperedowith,otheolargerointerestsoofotheopublicooroStateo andosimilarootheroconsiderations.o

14.o o Thereoisoanotheronayovitaloaspectoofotheomatterowhichocraveso attentionoofothisoCourt.o

15.o o Pertinently,otheostatutoryocommandoinotheoprovisootooSectiono 45(1)oofotheoPMLA,oisocategoric:oitoexemptsoallowomenoasoaoclassofromotheo stringentooperationoofotheo"twinoconditions"owithoutodrawingoanyostatutoryo distinctiono basedo ono education,o professionalo standing,o socialo status,o oro societalo exposure.o Since,o theo legislatureo choseo noto too qualifyo theo termo "woman",oanyoattemptobyotheoCourtotoocarveooutosub-categories,osuchoaso excludingo educated,o ando professionallyo employed,o etc.o womeno fromo theo purviewo ofo theo proviso,o wouldo tantamounto too impermissibleo judicialo legislationoandostatutoryosupplanting.oErgo,oasofaroasotheoinitialoapplicabilityo ofotheoprovisooisoconcerned,ocreatingosub-classificationsowithinotheoprotectedo grouporunsocontraryotootheoconstitutionaloethosoofoArticleo15(3)oandoviolateso theoplain-meaningoruleoofostatutoryointerpretation,oasoenshrinedoinotheomaximo absolutaosententiaoexpositorononoindigent,oi.e.owhereotheolanguageoisoplain,oito requiresonooconstruction.oHowever,oaovitalolegalodistinctionomustobeodrawno betweenotheoapplicabilityoofotheoprovisooandotheoultimateoexerciseoofojudicialo discretionounderoit.oWhileofactorsosuchoasoeducation,ohighoofficialostanding,o socio-economicoinfluence,oandotheospecificoroleoplayedoinotheooffenceoareo irrelevanto(inocaseoofoaowoman)oforodecidingowhetherotheo"twinoconditions"o 2026.08.10g15:36 standodisplaced,otheyoneverthelessobeotakenointooaccount,owhereorelevant,o o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 22o o o whileo adjudicatingo theo bailo pleao ono merits.o Aso affirmedo byo theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinoSaumyaoChaurasiao(supra),oliftingotheostatutoryobaroundero theo"twinoconditions"omerelyore-vestsodiscretionoinotheocourt;oitodoesonoto guaranteeoanoautomatic,omechanicalorelease.oErgo,owhileothereocannotobeoanyo furthero sub-classificationo amongsto women,o aso faro aso theo applicabilityo ofo provisootooSectiono45(1)oPMLAoisoconcerned,otheofactorsosuchoasotheoprimao facieo strengtho ofo theo prosecutiono case,o theo degreeo ofo intellectualo oro managerialoparticipationoinotheomoney-launderingoscheme,otheobackgroundo andospecificoroleoattributed,otheopotentialotooinfluenceowitnessesoorotampero witho evidence,o ando flighto risk,o etc.o remaino legitimateo factorso ino decidingo whetherojudicialodiscretionooughtotoobeoexercisedoinoherofavour.oTheoHon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinoKalvakuntlaoKavithao(supra)ocautionedoforoaojudiciouso andoprudentoexerciseoofodiscretionowhileoadjudicatingobailopleaoofoeducatedo andowell-placedowomenoinotheosocietyoengagingothemselvesoinocommercialo ventureso ando enterpriseso ando inadvertentlyo oro advertentlyo engagingo themselvesoinoillegaloactivitiesopertainingotoograveooffencesosuchoasomoneyo laundering.ooItogoesowithoutosayingothatoitoisoneitheropragmaticonorofeasibleo toolayoanyouniversaloexhaustiveoyardstickooroinexorableosetoofoguidelinesoforo adjudicationo ofo thiso aspecto aso everyo caseo haso itso owno uniqueo factualo conspectus,owhichohasotoobeotakenointooaccountobyotheoCourtowhichoisoino seisinoofotheomatter.oItowasosaidobyoLordoDenning,oanoobservationowhichometo withoapprovalobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,othat:oo "…..Eachocaseodependsoonoitsoownofacts,oandoaocloseosimilarityo betweeno oneo caseo ando anothero iso noto enough,o becauseo eveno ao singleo significantodetailomayoalterotheoentireoaspect.oInodecidingosuchocase,ooneo 2026.08.10g15:36 shouldo avoido theo temptationo too decideo caseo (Aso saido byo Cardozo)o byo o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 23o o o matchingotheocolouroofooneocaseoagainstotheocolouroofoanother.oToodecide,o therefore,oonowhichosideoofotheolineoaocaseofalls,oitsobroadoresemblanceotoo anotherocaseoisonotoallodecisive."o

16.oo o Asoaosequiturotooprevenientorumination,otheofollowingopostulateso emerge:o

(i)o oo Theostatutoryoexemptionocarvedooutounderotheofirstoprovisootoo Sectiono45(1)oofoPMLA;oisoclear,oexplicitoandounambiguous,oinomandatingo thatotheostatutoryobaroimposedobyotheo"twinoconditions"odoesonotoapplyotooao womanoaccusedoseekingoregularobailoforoanooffenceounderoPMLA.o

(ii)o o Theolegislatureohasodeliberatelyousedotheotermo"woman"owithouto qualificationo oro exception.o Applyingo theo plain-meaningo rule,o theo provisoo appliesouniversallyotooallowomenoasoaoclass.oConsequently,ojudicialocreationo ofosub-classifications;owhetherobasedoonoeducation,oprofessionalostanding,o highoofficialocapacity,oorosocio-economicostatus;oisoimpermissibleoasoitowouldo amountotoostatutoryosupplanting.o

(iii)o o Theointentionalostatutoryoshiftofromotheomandatoryoimperativeo "shall"o ino theo maino bodyo ofo Sectiono 45(1)o ofo PMLAo too theo permissiveo auxiliaryoexpressiono"mayobe"oinotheofirstoprovisoothereofodemonstratesothato theo dispensationo iso ano enabling,o discretionaryo provisiono rathero thano ano imperativeo command.o Theo provisoo liftso theo statutoryo baro ofo theo twino conditionsotoore-vestojudicialodiscretionoinotheocourt;oitodoesonotoconferoano absolute,oautomatic,ounconditionalooroindefeasibleorightotoobailosolelyoonotheo basisoofogender.o

(iv)o o TheolegaloambitoofofirstoprovisootooSectiono45(1)oofoPMLAoiso strictlyoconfinedotooexemptingoaowoman-accusedoseekingoregularobail,ofromo o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 24o o o meetingo theo burdeno ofo theo "twino conditions".o Liftingo thiso statutoryo prohibitionodoesonotoobliterate,osupersede,oorooverrideotheobroaderoprincipleso governingobailojurisprudence.oOnceotheo"twinoconditions"ostandodisplaced,o theogeneraloprinciplesoforogrant/refusaloofobailoremainofullyooperativeoando mustobeosatisfiedoindependently.o

(v)o o Thereoisonoostraight-jacketoformulaoforodeterminingotheofactorso requiredotoobeotakenointooaccountowhileoconsideringoaobailopleaoofoaowoman-accusedounderotheoPMLA;ooasoitoisoaoquestionothatodependsouponotheofacts/o circumstancesoofoaoparticularocase,oincludingobutonotolimitedoto;otheoprimao facieostrengthoofotheoprosecutionocase,otheonatureoandoextentoofotheoaccused'so participation,otheogravityoofotheooffence,opotentialosentenceoseverity,oflighto risk,otheoapprehensionoofowitnessotamperingooroevidenceosuppressionoetc.oNoo universaloguidelinesooroparametersocanopossiblyobeoexhaustivelyoenumeratedo forothisoexerciseoofopowerobyotheoconcernedoCourtoasoeveryocaseohasoitsoowno uniqueofactualoconspectus.oo Analysiso(reofactsoofotheopresentocase)o

17.o o NowothisoCourtorevertsotootheofactsoofopetitionoinohandotoodelveo thereupon.oo o o Theo petitionero (herein)o iso ao womano ando ino viewo ofo theo ruminationo ibid,o sheo wouldo noto beo requiredo too meeto witho theo rigorso ofo Sectiono45oofotheoPMLA.oFirstoprovisootooSectiono45(1)oofotheoPMLAoconferso aodiscretionaryopowerouponothisoCourtotooreleaseosuchoanoaccusedoonobail.oo Theosaidolegislativeoconsiderationocannotobeotreatedoasoanoemptyoformality.oo Itoisorequiredotoobeokeptoinomindowhileoassessingotheooverallocircumstancesoofo 2026.08.10g15:36 theocaseoincludingotheoperiodoofocustody,otheostageoofoproceedingsoandotheo o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 25o o o likelihoodoofoconclusionoofotrial.ooFurthermore,oatotheostageoofoconsiderationo ofobail,othisoCourtoisonotorequiredotooundertakeoaometiculousoexaminationoofo theoevidenceoororecordoaofindingowhichomayoprejudiceoeitherosideoatotheostageo ofotrial.ooAtothisostage;othisoCourtoisorequiredotooexamineotheobroadocontourso ofo theo allegations,o theo materialo collectedo duringo investigation,o theo roleo attributedotootheoaccused,otheoperiodoofocustodyoalreadyoundergoneoandotheo likelihoodoofotheotrialobeingoconcludedowithinoaoreasonableotime.oo

18.o o Inotheopresentocase,otheopetitionerowasoarrestedoono16.12.2025o andoasoperotheocustodyocertificateodatedo06.08.2026,osheohasoremainedoino custodyo foro moreo thano 07o months.o o Theo EDo haso filedo theo prosecutiono complaintodatedo27.01.2026oquaoherobeforeotheoconcernedoCourt.ooThereoiso noo tangibleo materialo availableo beforeo thiso Courto fromo whicho ito cano beo decipheredo thato anyo furthero custodialo interrogationo ofo theo petitionero iso presentlyo required.o o Thiso Courto cannoto loseo sighto ofo theo facto thato theo prosecutiono proposeso too examineo 73o witnesseso aso alsoo relyo upono 111o documentsorunningointoo6728opageso&otheotrialoisoconcededlyoatotheopre-cognizanceostage.ooItois,othus,oindubitableothatotheoconclusionoofotrialowillo takeo longo &o culminationo thereofo cannoto beo reasonablyo foreseeno ino nearo futureoconsideringotheovolumeoofotheoprosecutionomaterialoandotheonumberoofo witnessesoproposedotoobeoexamined.oNothingotangibleohasobeenobroughtofortho tooindicateotheolikelihoodoofotheopetitioneroabscondingofromotheoprocessoofo justice.ooFurthermore,onothingoperceptibleohasobeenobroughtoforwardofromo whereoitocanobeoinferredothatotheopetitioneromayoinfluenceotheowitnesses.oTheo materialoreliedouponobyotheoprosecutionoisosubstantiallyodocumentaryoando 2026.08.10g15:36 electronicoinonature.oTheoprosecutionohasoalreadyocompletedoitsoinvestigationo o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 26o o o andohasofiledotheoprosecutionocomplaintoagainstotheopetitionero(herein).oTheo documentso ando electronico deviceso statedo too haveo beeno seizedo duringo investigationoareoalreadyoinotheocustodyoofotheoinvestigatingoagency.oInotheo consideredo opiniono ofo thiso Court,o theo petitionero cannoto beo subjectedo too incarcerationoforoanoindefiniteoperiodomerelyobecauseotheoallegationsoagainsto heroareoserious,oparticularlyowhenotheotrialoisolikelyotootakeoconsiderableotime.oo Atothisostage,othisoCourtoisorequiredotooexamineowhetherothereoisoanythingo tangibleoonorecordotooindicateothat,oiforeleasedoonobail,otheopetitioneroisolikelyo too abscondo oro evadeo theo processo ofo law.o o Nothingo substantialo haso beeno broughtotootheonoticeoofotheoCourtofromowhichosuchoanoapprehensionocanobeo inferred.ooTheopetitionerohasoremainedoavailableoduringotheoinvestigationoando theoprosecutionohasoalreadyo filedo itso complaint.o o Theo mereonatureoofotheo allegationsocannot,obyoitself,obeotreatedoasosufficientogroundoforotheocontinuedo incarcerationo ofo theo petitionero ando alsoo theo soleo determiningo factoro foro decidingoaoprayeroforobail.ooTheoCourtoisorequiredotoobalanceotheogravityoofo theoallegationso witho theoprincipleo ofo personalolibertyo andoothero attendingo circumstanceso emergingo fromo theo record.o Furthermore,o theo EDo haso noto broughto fortho list/detailso ofo anyo witness(s)o beingo vulnerableo muchlesso tangibleobasisothereof.ooo

18.1.o o Theoprosecutionohasoattributedotootheopetitioneroaoroleoinotheo managementoofotheoaffairsoofotheoCompanyoandoroutingoandolayeringotheo allegedoproceedsoofocrimeothroughovariousobankoaccounts.oTheseoallegationso areo yeto too beo establishedo byo theo prosecutiono byo leadingo cogento evidenceo duringotrial.ooAtotheostageoofoconsiderationoofopleaoforograntooforegularobail,o 2026.08.10g15:36 thisoCourtocannotodetermineotheoprobativeovalueoofodocument/statement(s)o o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 27o o o reliedouponobyotheoprosecutionoasotheosameowouldobeoexaminedobyotheotrialo Courto ato theo appropriateo stageo ino accordanceo witho law.o o Furthermore,o aso notedoabove,otheopetitionerohasoalreadyosufferedoincarcerationoforomoreothano sevenomonths.ooTheoprosecutionocomplaintowasofiledowithinosixoweeksoofohero arrestobutotheotrialoisopresentlyoatotheopre-cognizanceostage.ooConsideringotheo numberoofowitnessesoandotheovoluminousodocumentaryomaterialoreliedoupono byotheoprosecution,othereoisonooreasonableopossibilityoofotheotrialoconcludingo inotheonearofuture.ooo

19.o o Keepingoinoviewotheoentiretyoofotheofactualomilieuoofotheocaseoino hand;omoreopertinentlyotheofactumoofotheopetitionero(herein)obeingoaowoman,o theoprocrastinatedonatureoofotheotrialowhichoisoreflectableofromotheoextensiveo prosecutionoevidenceolikelyotoobeoyetoledo(inotheoformoofo73owitnessesoando 111oreliedouponodocumentsorunningointoo6728opages)ovis-à-visotheopetitionero (herein)oalreadyohavingosufferedoincarcerationoforomoreothano07omonthsoaso perotheocustodyocertificateodatedo06.08.2026obroughtoforthobyoED,onoolistoofo vulnerableowitnessesomuchlessobasisothereofobeingobroughtoforward,onothingo tangibleobeingoshownothatotheopetitioneroisolikelyotooinfluenceoanyowitness(s)o &o nothingo substantialo beingo broughto forwardo thato theo petitionero poseso ao potentoflightorisk;othisoCourtoisoinclinedotooaffordoregularobailotootheopetitionero (herein).ooo Decisiono o o Inoviewoofotheoprevenientoratiocination,oitoisoordainedothus:o I.o o Theo petitiono ino hando iso grantedo &o ito iso directedo thato theo petitionero beo releasedo ono regularo bailo ino ECIR/CDZO-I/17/2025o datedo 2026.08.10g15:36 18.09.2025oregisteredounderotheoPreventionoofoMoneyoLaunderingoAct,o2002o o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 28o o o onosuchotermso ando condition(s)o aso deemedo appropriateobyo theo concernedo SpecialoJudge/DutyoMagistrate,oincludingobutonotolimitedoto,otheofollowingo conditions:o o o (i)o Theopetitioneroshallonotomis-useotheolibertyogranted.oo o o (ii)oo Theopetitioneroshallonototamperowithoanyoevidence,ooraloo o o orodocumentary,oduringotheotrial.oo

(iii)oo Theopetitioneroshallonotoabsentoherselfoonoanyodateobeforeotheotrialo withoutotheoprioropermissionoofocompetentoCourt.oo

(iv)oo Theopetitioneroshallonotocommitoanyooffenceowhileoonobail.oo

(v)oo Theo petitionero shallo deposito hero passporto witho theo concernedo SpecialoJudge/DutyoMagistrate.ooo

(vi)o TheopetitioneroshallogiveoherocellphoneonumberotootheoInvestigatingo Officeroandoshallonotochangeoherocell-phoneonumberowithoutoprioro permissionoofotheotrialoCourt.o

(vii)o Theopetitioneroshallonotoinoanyomannerotryotoodelayotheotrial.oo

(viii)o Theo petitionero shallo submit,o ono theo firsto workingo dayo ofo everyo month,oanoaffidavit,obeforeotheoconcernedoCourt,otootheoeffectothato sheo haso noto beeno involvedo ino commissiono ofo anyo offenceo aftero beingo releasedo ono bail.o Ino caseo theo petitionero iso foundo too beo involvedoinoanyooffenceoafteroherobeingoenlargedoonobailoinotheo presentocase,oonotheobasisoofoheroaffidavitoorootherwise,otheoEDoiso mandatedotoomove,oforthwith,oforocancellationoofoherobailowhicho plea,obutoofocourse,oshallobeoponderedouponomeritsothereof.oo

(ix)oo Theopetitioneroshalloalsoobeoobligatedotoofurnishoeitheroaodemand-drafto oro FDRo oro banko guaranteeo too theo tuneo ofo ₹20.00o lacso ino favouroofotheoCourtoreleasingoheroonobail.oNeedlessotoosayothatothiso amounto mayo beo liableo too beo forfeitedo forthwitho ino caseo ofo anyo defaultoatoheroend.ooo o o II.o o Ino caseo ofo breacho ofo anyo ofo theo aforesaido stipulation(s)o ando thoseowhichomayobeoimposedobyoconcernedoSpecialoCourt/DutyoMagistrateo asodirectedohereinaboveoorouponoshowingoanyootherosufficientocause,otheoEDo shallo beo ato libertyo too moveo foro cancellationo ofo bailo herebyo grantedo too AJAYgKUMAR petitioner.oo o o o CRM-M-7180-2026o o o o o o 29o o o III.o o Nothingosaidohereinaboveoshallobeoconstruedoasoanoexpressiono ofoopinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocase.oo IV.oo o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedooff.ooo o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o oooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo ooo oooJUDGEo o Augusto07,o2026o Ajay/Mahaviro o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o Yes/Noo o