Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 4: Special Judge Anti-corruption (CBI Cases) Jammu has granted anticipatory bail to former Forest Minister Choudhary Lal Singh and his wife in Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The applicants-Singh and his wife moved separate applications before the court seeking concession of bail in anticipation of their arrest in FIR for commission of offences punishable under PC Act.
The FIR bearing No.RC0042020A0005, for commission of offences punishable under sections 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006 was registered against accused persons Kanta Andotra and Ravinder Singh wherein name of applicant-Singh is not mentioned and there is no predicate offence registered or pending against him.
The applicant submitted that a charge sheet for the commission of offence titled CBI Vs. Kanta Andotra and Another was filed in the Court of Special Judge Anticorruption (CBI cases) Jammu. It was submitted that no charge has been framed till date in case of CBI Vs. Kanta Andotra and Another and vide its order dated 27.03.2023 the matter was referred for re-investigation and now the proceedings in case are stayed vide its order dated 19.04.2023.
It was submitted that nothing incriminating was found by the respondent at the time when the house was searched and four summons were issued to the applicant by taking recourse to Section 50 of PMLA and the applicant is having reasonable apprehension that he may be arrested by the respondents for the alleged commission of offence, punishable under Section 3 of the PMLA which is non-bailable.
The Presiding Officer of the court said the matter is returned to the applicant for presenting before the competent court of Principal Sessions Judge Jammu vide its order dated 01.11.2023 on the ground that the predicate offence being investigated by the CBI though his Court ( Pr. Sessions Judge Jammu) is also a designated Court under the PMLA and in view of above said, both the applications consequently filed by Kanta Andotra as well as Choudhary Lal Singh are returned to them for presenting before the competent court.
SPP Ashwani Khajuria who was present for Enforcement Directorate sought time to file objections and produce case diaries. Copies of the bail applications were furnished to him in the open court.
“Till then after hearing both the sides the applicant is also admitted to bail in anticipation of his arrest till objections are filed by prosecution and considered subject to furnishing of two sufficient sureties amounting Rs. 1 lakh each in the event of their arrest”, Court directed.
The court while granting bail in anticipation to both the applicants laid certain conditions on them viz they shall not give slip to law and flee from the course of justice and shall not influence the prosecution witnesses or tamper with the evidence.
“That they shall cooperate with the investigating agency for the purposes of investigation. Besides the applicant is already accompanying his ailing wife for her medical treatment who has undergone knee surgery moreover the applicant is already directed to appear on 4th of November 2023 before investigating agency for his statement”, read the order.
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