Bail pending trial under PMLA granted to an elderly accused after prolonged incarceration, subject to strict conditions.

Bail pending trial under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was granted after the Supreme Court noted that the appellant was over 75 years old and had already undergone actual incarceration for four years and nine months. On those circumstances, the Court allowed release on bail during the pendency of trial, subject to terms and conditions to be fixed by the trial court, including surrender of the passport and no travel out of India without permission. The Court also reserved liberty to cancel bail on non-compliance and clarified that its observations were confined to the appeal and did not express any view on the merits.

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Issues: Whether the appellant was entitled to be released on bail pending trial in the prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Analysis: The appellant was more than 75 years of age and had already undergone actual incarceration for four years and nine months. In these circumstances, the Court accepted the appeal and directed release on bail during the pendency of trial, subject to terms and conditions to be fixed by the trial court. The appellant was required to surrender his passport and not leave India without the trial court's permission, with liberty to the trial court to cancel bail on non-compliance. The order also clarified that the observations were confined to the disposal of the appeal and did not express any opinion on the merits.

Conclusion: Bail was granted to the appellant during the pendency of trial, and the impugned judgment was set aside.

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