The HC dismissed the applicant's anticipatory bail application...

The HC dismissed the applicant's anticipatory bail application under Section 482 BNSS in a money laundering case involving forged Form 15CBs and remittances exceeding Rs. 300 crores. Though not named in the predicate FIR, the Enforcement Directorate attributed proceeds to the applicant's company under PMLA Sections 3 and 70. The Court held that statutory presumption under Section 24 PMLA arose, which the applicant failed to rebut. The applicant's evasive conduct, including non-compliance with multiple Section 50 summons despite being intercepted at Amritsar airport, demonstrated lack of bona fides. As a Hong Kong permanent resident with no fixed Indian assets, the applicant posed flight risk. The Court emphasized custodial interrogation necessity in white-collar crimes and found premature bail would impede investigation and compromise PMLA objectives.

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