Medical grounds and infirmity justified regular bail under the PMLA proviso, with no flight-risk or witness-tampering material.

Regular bail was granted on medical grounds under the proviso to Section 45(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 after the Court accepted verified medical records showing recurring and worsening back pain with radiculopathy, hospitalisation, continued treatment in custody, and further deterioration. The Court treated the petitioner as sick or infirm for purposes of the proviso and noted no material showing flight risk, tampering with evidence, or influencing witnesses. It also relied on the right to life and dignified medical treatment in admitting the petitioner to bail subject to conditions.

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Issues: Whether the petitioner was entitled to regular bail on medical grounds under the proviso to Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Analysis: The medical record showed recurring and worsening back pain with radiculopathy, hospital admission, continuing treatment in custody, and later examination indicating further deterioration. The Court accepted the verified medical material and noted that the petitioner fell within the category of a sick or infirm for purposes of the proviso to Section 45(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The Court also noted the absence of material showing flight risk, tampering with evidence, or influencing witnesses, and treated the right to life and dignified medical treatment as relevant to the bail decision.

Conclusion: The petitioner was held entitled to bail on medical grounds and was admitted to regular bail subject to conditions.

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