Custodial interrogation completed, bail granted under PMLA where continued detention served no further investigative purpose.

Bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was granted after custodial interrogation had already been completed and no further investigative purpose for continued detention was shown. The Court treated the allegations as limited to issuance of certificates as a Chartered Accountant without verification of the underlying business and Bills of Entry, and held that the prosecution's apprehension alone was insufficient to refuse bail once custody with the Enforcement Directorate had run its course. Bail was therefore allowed subject to conditions.

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Issues: Whether the petitioner was entitled to bail in a prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Analysis: The petitioner had already been arrested and the Enforcement Directorate had obtained custody for five days, which stood completed. The allegations against him were limited to issuance of certificates as a Chartered Accountant without verification of the underlying business and Bills of Entry. In these circumstances, further detention was found unnecessary, particularly when the other accused had not yet been arrested. The Court held that the apprehension of the prosecution was not sufficient to deny bail once custodial interrogation had been completed.

Conclusion: Bail was granted to the petitioner on conditions.

Ratio Decidendi: Where custodial interrogation has been completed and continued detention is not shown to serve any further investigative purpose, bail may be granted subject to appropriate conditions even in an ongoing investigation.

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