The HC dismissed the applicant's bail petition under the PMLA,...

The HC dismissed the applicant's bail petition under the PMLA, holding that the proviso and twin conditions of Section 45 were not satisfied. On the material before the court the applicant was prima facie implicated in an organised money-laundering syndicate, with evidence of deliberate concealment and financial interlinks; statements recorded under Section 50 were held admissible for bail assessment. Applying the statutory presumption in Section 24 and precedent on socio-economic offences, the court found reasonable grounds to believe the applicant's involvement and a risk of further offending if released. Accordingly, bail was denied.