It Is Necessary To Fulfil The Twin Conditions Which Are Required For Grant Of Bail Under The PMLA, 2002: High Court Of Chhattisgarh
Title: Mr. Rajnikant Tiwari V Directorate Of Enforcement, Goi
Citation: 2023:Cghc:26629
Coram: Hon’ble Shri Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas
Decided On: 02.11.2023
Introduction:
This is first bail application filed by the applicant under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, for grant of anticipatory bail, who has apprehension of being arrested in connection with Crime dated 29.09.2022 registered at Police Station- Directorate of Enforcement, Zonal Office, Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 186, 204, 353, 120B, 384 of IPC, Sections 3 & 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
Facts:
The case of the prosecution is that during a search and seizure investigation under Section 132 of the Income Tax Act conducted on 30.06.2022 and one Mr. Suryakant Tiwari at a hotel room of Hotel Shereton Grand, Bengaluru, certain incriminating materials are said to have been found, based upon which a complaint was lodged by the Income Tax Department at the Kadugodi, Police Station Bengaluru alleging offences under Sections 186, 204 and 353 read with Section 120B of the IPC which led to the registration of the FIR. Further investigation was conducted. In the course of the investigation, main accused- Suryakant Tiwari was summoned and was arrested on 13.10.2022.
It is further case of the prosecution that the prosecution has recovered diaries from the possession of Smt. Soumya Chourasiya and the main accused- Suryakant Tiwari, from which it would reveal transaction of cash money between Smt. Soumya Chourasiya and the main accused- Suryakant Tiwari. It is also case of the prosecution that object of Suryakant Tiwari to tamper and destroy the important documents as well as electronic gadgets and Suryakant Tiwari along with his brother, Rajnikant Tiwari and his associates Hemant Jaiswal, Jogendra Singh, Moinuddin Quaraishi, Nikhil Chandrakar, Roshan Singh and others were involved in criminal conspiracy to run a parallel system of collecting illegal levy on coal and were doing illegal and unaccounted cash movement as per instructions of Suryakant Tiwari.
All the above mentioned associates of Suryakant Tiwari had admitted in their statements recorded before the Income Tax officials that they were doing the illegal levy collection on the instructions of Suryakant Tiwari. The proceeds received from the above referred to action were being used for taking undue advantage and to influence public servants by corrupt and illegal means and by exercise of personal influence.
The role of the present applicant is that he was an active member of the extortion syndicate. He was the focal point where all the extorted cash was deposited and was stored and subsequently dispatched for utilization as per the instructions of Suryakant Tiwari.
Learned Senior counsel for the applicant would submit that it is a case where the applicant would be entitled for the benefit under the exceptions carved out under Section 45 of the PMLA, 2002. He would further submit that the applicant has cooperated with the Investigating Agency on all occasions and there is no further possibility of the applicant misusing the bail or would influence in any manner the investigation or tampering of the evidence nor is there any possibility of the present applicant absconding either.
learned counsel for the respondent has filed reply to the application mainly contending that the present applicant has played specific role in commission of offence. It has been further contended that ED investigation revealed that unless cash @ Rs. 25/tonne of coal transported was paid to associates of Suryakant Tiwari, the concerned mining officer in the office of collectorate would not issue the requisite transit pass. All of this was facilitated/coordinated by Suryakant Tiwari with clout of Smt. Soumya Chaurasia and other Government officials. It has been further contended that once these associates of Shri Suryakant Tiwari received the additional charge of Rs. 25 per tonne of coal to be transported, message was then communicated to the Mining Officer (s) and thereafter the delivery orders were cleared for transport.
Court’s Analysis and Judgement:
Involvement of the applicant is reflected. The material collected by the Enforcement Directorate has not been rebutted which also prima facie reflects about involvement of the applicant. The record of the case would further demonstrate that the applicant is unable to fulfil the twin conditions which are required for grant of bail under the PMLA, 2002, is equally applicable for grant of anticipatory bail, which has not been satisfied by the present applicant.
Considering the facts and law, gravity of offence, possibility of tempering of the witnesses and prima facie considering the fact that the applicant is unable to satisfy twin conditions of Section 45 of PMLA, 2002 for grant of anticipatory bail. Due to which the court was not in the opinion to grant the applicant the anticipatory bail. Hence the application was rejected.
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