AIR 2020 SUPREME COURT 1699 ::AIROnline 2019 SC 1669 ::2020 (13) SCC 791 ::(2020) 211 All Ind Cas 78 (SC) ::2022 (118) All Cri C (SOC) 12 (SC) ::2020 (5) Mh LJ (Cri) 263 ::2020 (1) Mad LW (Cri) 580 ::(2020) 1 AllCriLR 1 ::(2019) 4 Crimes 253 ::(2020) 77 OCR 383 ::2020 (1) KCCR SN 32 (SC)

Supreme Court Of India

(From : AIROnline 2019 Del 1777)

Hon'ble Judge(s): R. Banumathi, A. S. Bopanna, Hrishikesh Roy , JJJ

(A) Criminal P.C. (2 of 1974) , S.439— Penal Code (45 of 1860) , S.120B, S.420— Prevention of Corruption Act (49 of 1988) , S.8, S.13(2), S.13(1)(d)— Prevention of Money Laundering Act (15 of 2003) , S.3, S.4— Bail - INX Media Scam case - Appellant/former Finance Minister of India not named as accused in Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) - Appellant available for custodial interrogation for more than 45 days - One of co-accused granted bail and other enjoying interim protection from arrest - Appellant aged about 74 years, already suffered two bouts of illness during incarceration - Appellant held to be not 'flight risk' and not in a position to tamper evidence or influence witnesses - Bail granted. The appellant has not been named as one of the accused in the ECIR but the allegation while being made against the co-accused it is indicated the appellant who was the Finance Minister at that point, has aided the illegal transactions since one of the co-accused is the son of the appellant. In this context even if the statements on record and materials gathered are taken note, the complicity of the appellant will have to be established in the trial and if convicted, the appellant will undergo sentence. For the present, @page-SC1700 as taken note the anticipatory bail had been declined earlier and the appellant was available f....