Bail in money-laundering cases may be granted on overall circumstances without any finding on guilt.

Bail may be granted in a money-laundering prosecution after assessing the overall circumstances, including the petitioner's custody, filing of the complaint, progress of trial, bail granted to a co-accused, and other surrounding facts. The Court expressly refrained from expressing any view on the merits of the alleged offence while deciding the request. It granted bail on terms and conditions, including safeguards to ensure appearance and to prevent alienation of alleged properties without the Trial Court's permission.

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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 application was considered in the background of the petitioner's custody, the filing of the complaint, the progress of the trial, the bail already granted to a co-accused, and the surrounding circumstances placed before the Court. The Court recorded that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits or demerits of the case while assessing the request for bail. Conditions were also imposed to secure the petitioner's appearance and to restrain alienation of alleged properties without permission of the Trial Court.

Conclusion: The petitioner was found entitled to bail.

Final Conclusion: Bail was granted to the petitioner on terms and conditions, without any finding on the merits of the alleged money-laundering offence.

Ratio Decidendi: Bail may be granted in a money-laundering prosecution on an assessment of the overall circumstances, including custody and progress of trial, without recording any conclusion on guilt.

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