PMLA bail under twin conditions refused where travel, transactions, and property links prima facie indicated laundering involvement

In a PMLA bail assessment, the Chhattisgarh HC applied the Section 45 twin conditions and examined whether there were reasonable grounds to believe the applicant was not guilty and unlikely to reoffend on bail. On the broad probabilities available at the bail stage, the applicant's travel to Dubai, meetings with the principal accused, bank transactions said to route proceeds of crime, and alleged property acquisition in his wife's name were treated as prima facie links to laundering activity. The Court found the material sufficient at this stage to show involvement and that the statutory threshold for regular bail was not satisfied, so bail was refused.

---

---

Issues: Whether the applicant was entitled to regular bail in a prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, having regard to the statutory restrictions under Section 45 and the material collected during investigation.

Analysis: The application was considered in the context of the twin requirements under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, namely, whether there were reasonable grounds for believing that the applicant was not guilty and whether he was likely to commit an offence while on bail. The material on record was assessed on broad probabilities at the bail stage. The applicant's admitted travel to Dubai, his admitted meetings with the principal accused, the bank-account transactions said to be linked with routing of proceeds of crime, and the allegations concerning acquisition of property in the name of his wife were treated as circumstances prima facie connecting him with the alleged laundering activity. The Court found that the statements and financial material were sufficient at this stage to indicate involvement, and that the applicant had not made out a case satisfying the statutory threshold for grant of bail.

Conclusion: Bail was declined and the application was rejected.

---