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2023 (3) TMI 743 - HC - Money LaunderingSeeking grant of bail - Money Laundering - mass loot of public money deposited by innocent prospective home buyers and have laundered the said money - discharge of burden of proof - HELD THAT:- In the present case, undoubtedly, the present applicant was taken into custody on 11.10.2018 for the same allegations for which the E.D. has filed ECIR in question. However, EOW of Delhi Police has taken custody of the present applicant on 26.10.2019 and the E.D. has taken custody on 03.12.2019. Therefore, for all practical purposes the present applicant is in judicial custody for more than four years and four months and if the period of judicial custody, so taken by the E.D. is considered, it is more than three years and three months. Undisputedly, the maximum punishment for the offence wherein the trial is going on is seven year. Therefore, in both the situations the present applicant has served half of the sentence. Since the learned counsel for the E.D. has been heard at good length and a some of Rs.28.95 crores have already been recovered from the applicant in furtherance of the proceed of crime and considering the statement that nothing remains to be recovered from him now, it is found appropriate that the present applicant may be enlarged on bail as rigour of Section 45 of PMLA are satisfied, particularly in view of the fact that the present applicant has already served more than half of the punishment, has not misused the liberty of interim bail granted by the Apex Court and there is no possibility or likelihood to conclude the trial with expedition inasmuch as there are total 150 prosecution witnesses and only two prosecution witnesses have been examined by now. Let the present applicant (Shiv Priya) be released on bail in the aforesaid case crime number on his furnishing a personal bond of Rs.2,00,000/- with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned with the conditions imposed - application allowed.
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