PACL Vs. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned Senior Counsel, Mr. ANS Nadkarni appearing for the applicants and learned Additional Solicitor General, Mrs. Aishwarya Bhati appearing for respondent.

(2.) The interlocutory applications are filed by accused nos. 5 and 6 seeking bail in FIR No. RC-BD1/2014E004-CBI/BS&FC/New Delhi dtd. 19/2/2014 for the offence punishable under Sec. 120B, 409, 411, 420, 467, 468, 471, 474 of 1. Heard learned Senior Counsel, Mr. ANS Nadkarni appearing for the applicants and learned Additional Solicitor General, Mrs. Aishwarya Bhati appearing for respondent. 2. The interlocutory applications are filed by accused nos. 5 and 6 seeking bail in FIR No. RC-BD1/2014E004-CBI/BS&FC/New Delhi dtd. 19/2/2014 for the offence punishable under Sec. 120B, 409, 411, 420, 467, 468, 471, 474 ofthe Indian Penal Code, 1860 and under Sec. 4, 5, and 6 of the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Scheme (Banning) Act, 1978. Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 326 of 2023 has also been filed by Accused No. 6 for a similar relief. Incidentally, the applicants seek bail in all other subsequent complaints filed by different informants, investigated by different authorities, spanning the entire country. We may also clarify that these interlocutory applications have no connection with the pending transferred cases in TC (Crl.) No. 1 of 2016 and TC (Crl.) No. 3 of 2016.

(3.) The Central Bureau of Investigation registered a case in PE/BD 1/2010/E00203 2016 in pursuance to the directions issued by this Court vide order dtd. 12/3/2023 in Civil Appeal No. 6572 of 2004. On the basis of enquiry conducted, a criminal case was registered as afore-stated. The applicants being the Directors at the relevant point of time were arrayed as accused. The amount siphoned off exceeds over and above 40 thousand crores, out of which a paltry sum has been recovered so far despite the efforts made by the investigating agency and the Committee constituted under Justice R.M. Lodha on the orders of this Court.