SURAJ SATISH CHAVAN vs DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT AND ORS

Judgment text excerpt

902. BA-4141-2024.docx Amberkar IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 4141 OF 2024 Suraj Satish Chavan .. Applicant Versus Directorate of Enforcement & Anr. .. Respondents ....................  Mr. Ashok Mundargi, Sr. Advocate a/w Mr. Harshad Bhadbhade, Ms. Nikita Mandaniyan, Mr. Dileep Satale, Ms. Shagufta Patel, Mr. Shyam Dewani, Mr. Sachet Makhija & Mr. Dashang Doshi for Applicant  Mr. H.S. Venegavkar, Special P.P. a/w Mr. Aayush Kedia for Respondent No. 1 - ED  Mr. Hitendra J. Dedhia, APP for the State  Mr. Suryakanth Swankar. AD & Ms. Priyam Dubey, EO are present ................... CORAM : MILIND N. JADHAV, J. DATE : FEBRUARY 04, 2025 JUDGMENT: 1. This Application is filed by Applicant / Accused (Sole Accused) for grant of bail under Section 439 of Cr.P.C. read with Section 45 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (for short “PMLA”). Applicant has been arrested and is in jail since 17.01.2024. The designated Special Court by order dated 09.09.2024 dismissed the Bail Application preferred by the Applicant. Bail Application is filed in connection with the alleged offence under Section 3 of the PMLA which is punishable under Section 4 of the said Act. Six volumes of the charge-sheet is filed as compilation by Applicant. Reference to 1 of 34 902. BA-4141-2024.docx relevant documents is as per the documents appearing in the compilation. 2. Briefly stated, prosecution case is that Mumbai police registered FIR on 01.09.2023 on the basis of Complaint filed by Gopal Pandurang Lavne - EOW officer in respect of two specific Work orders issued by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (for short “MCGM”) dated 14.04.2020 and 17.04.2020 to supply cooked food (khichdi) during the COVID-19 Pandemic l