Money-laundering bail refused where illegal mining probe continued and medical plea did not justify release

Allegations of large-scale illegal mining and laundering of the alleged proceeds of crime disclosed a prima facie money-laundering case, and the investigation was not limited to the two FIRs cited by the petitioner because other scheduled offences from the same activity remained under investigation. The plea that the alleged proceeds were below the statutory threshold was not accepted, as money-laundering was treated as a continuing offence. The petitioner's medical condition was not treated as a special ground for bail at that stage, although treatment in custody was directed. Regular bail was refused.

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Issues: Whether the petitioner was entitled to regular bail in a money-laundering case notwithstanding the stand that some predicate cases had ended in final form and that the alleged proceeds of crime were below the statutory threshold, and whether illness furnished a special ground for bail.

Analysis: The allegations disclosed a prima facie case of large-scale illegal mining and laundering of the alleged proceeds of crime. The investigation was not confined to the two FIRs relied upon by the petitioner, as other scheduled offences arising out of the same illegal mining activity were still under investigation. Money-laundering was treated as a continuing offence, and the plea based on the alleged quantum of seized proceeds was not accepted. On the medical plea, the petitioner was directed to receive treatment in custody, but no special ground for bail was found at that stage.

Conclusion: Bail was refused and the petitioner was not entitled to be enlarged on regular bail.

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