CHRISTIAN JAMES MICHEL vs DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT

$~ * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment delivered on: 04.03.2025 + BAIL APPLN. 1337/2024 CHRISTIAN JAMES MICHEL .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Aljo K. Joseph, Mr. Vishnu Shankar and Mr. Sriram P., Advocates versus DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT .....Respondent Through: Mr. Zoheb Hossain, Special counsel for ED with Mr. Vivek Gurnani, Standing Counsel for ED with Mr. Kartik Sabharwal, Advocate CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA JUDGMENT SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J 1. The applicant, Christian James Michel, seeks regular bail by way of the present application, in case arising out of ECIR No. DLZO/15/2014/AD(VM) 7551-7584, dated 03.07.2014, recorded for offence under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 [hereafter „PMLA‟]. FACTUAL BACKDROP 2. The brief facts of the case, as discernible from the material on BAIL APPLN. 1337/2024 3. Subsequently, the Director General (Acquisition), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, had lodged a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 12.02.2013, requesting an inquiry into the allegations. A preliminary inquiry was conducted, leading to the registration of an FIR/RC No. 217-2013-A-