RAMESH CHANDRA vs THE DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT

Judgment text excerpt

$~J * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Judgment reserved on: 04.02.2025 Judgment pronounced on: 21.03.2025 + BAIL APPLN. 1913/2022 RAMESH CHANDRA .....Petitioner Through: Ms. Rebecca M. John, Sr. Adv. with Mr. Vishal Gosain, Mr. Anuroop Chakravarti, Mr. Pravir Singh, Advs. versus THE DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT .....Respondent Through: Mr. Zoheb Hossain, Special Counsel with Mr. Vivek Gurnani, Standing Counsel with Mr. Kartik Sabharwal, Mr. Pranjal Tripathi, Mr. Kanishk Maurya, Ms. Ilma Khan, Mr. Suradhish Vats, Mr. Kunal Kochar, Advs. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH JUDGMENT : JASMEET SINGH, J 1. This is a petition seeking regular bail in ECIR/04/DLZO-II/2018 dated 06.06.2018 under Sections 406, 420 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (“IPC”) and Sections 3 read with 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (“PMLA”). On 31.08.2021, the said ECIR was amended to include the offences under Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (“PCA”). 2. It is stated that the petitioner is 86 years old and is suffering from multiple ailments. His medical reports indicate a deteriorating Digitally Signed BAIL APPLN. 1913/2022 Page 1 of 28 By:MAYANK Signing Date:21.03.2025 13:31:11 condition, including a high risk of a lacunar stroke, repeated dizziness and a history of severe post COVID-19 complications. 3. The petitioner was arrested in the present case on 04.10.2021 and had been released on interim bail since 08.08.2022 on medical grounds vide the order dated 28.07.2022. FACTUAL BACKGROUND 4. Between 2006 to 2022, 62 FIRs were registered by Delhi Police (EOW, Saket, Mandir Marg, Crime Branch Police Stations) and CBI, against Promoters of Unitech Group (“the company”) i.e. Ramesh Chandra, Ajay Chandra and Sanjay Chandra and