COVID-19 interim release excluded for serious economic offences where custody medical records showed no compelling ground for bail.

Interim bail or parole during the COVID-19 pandemic was denied because the petitioner fell outside the High Powered Committee's temporary release categories for serious economic offences, including proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The court accepted that the Committee's exclusion of such cases applied, and the medical record showed the petitioner's condition was stable with treatment being provided in custody, so no compelling ground for release was made out. The challenge to the Committee's classification was not accepted, though the petitioner remained free to make a representation before that Committee.

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Issues: Whether the petitioner was entitled to interim bail or parole during the COVID-19 pandemic despite the High Powered Committee guidelines excluding persons facing trial under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and other serious economic offences, and whether the petitioner's medical condition justified release.

Analysis: The petitioner's case was found to fall outside the categories prescribed by the High Powered Committee for temporary release during the pandemic. The allegations involved economic offences and offences punishable under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code, which carried serious penal consequences and did not satisfy the Committee's relaxed criteria. The Court also noted that the jail medical status report showed the petitioner's condition as stable and that prescribed treatment was being provided in custody. In these circumstances, no ground was made out for grant of interim bail or parole. The challenge to the Committee's classification was not accepted.

Conclusion: The request for interim bail or parole was declined and the petitioner was held not entitled to release on the pleaded grounds.

Final Conclusion: The order affirms the applicability of the High Powered Committee's exclusion of serious economic offence cases from COVID-19 interim release consideration, while leaving the petitioner free to seek representation before that Committee.

Ratio Decidendi: A person facing trial for serious economic offences, including offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, can be denied interim bail or parole where the applicable COVID-19 release guidelines exclude such cases and the custody medical record does not disclose a compelling ground for release.

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