Supreme Court Grants Bail to Businessman in Major Money Laundering Case
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has granted bail to businessman Anwar Dheber, who was implicated in a ₹2000 crore liquor scam. The court clarified that there is no mandatory requirement for an accused in a money laundering case to spend a year in custody before being eligible for bail. Dheber, who has been in jail for over nine months, is facing charges related to tax evasion and irregularities in the liquor trade. The court's decision highlights the complexities of legal proceedings in high-profile cases, especially concerning the number of witnesses involved and the potential for trial delays. This ruling may set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
| May 20, 2025, 19:01 IST
Supreme Court's Ruling on Bail
The Supreme Court has clarified that there is no established rule requiring a person accused of money laundering to spend a year in jail before being granted bail, providing relief to businessman Anwar Dheber. A bench comprising Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuiyan granted bail to Dheber in connection with an alleged ₹2,000 crore liquor scam, stating that it is not a requirement to remain in custody for a year to secure bail. Dheber was arrested in August of the previous year and has spent over nine months in jail. The apex court noted that the maximum punishment for the alleged crime is seven years, and given the large number of witnesses, it is unlikely that the trial against Dheber will commence soon.
Details of the Case
Dheber was arrested on August 8, 2024, with references to forty witnesses in the ongoing investigation. There are a total of 450 witnesses related to this case, and no formal charges have been filed yet, indicating that a trial is not expected in the near future. The court emphasized that Dheber should be released on bail under strict conditions, referencing the decision made in the Senthil Balaji case. The bench stated that if Dheber possesses a passport, it must be surrendered. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) lawyer urged the bench not to grant bail, arguing that Dheber had not yet completed a year in custody since his arrest last August. The ED's lawyer also claimed that the Supreme Court has been adhering to a 'one-year custody criterion' for granting bail in various cases and suggested that this standard should apply to Dheber's situation as well. Furthermore, the ED's lawyer expressed concerns that Dheber, being politically connected and influential, could obstruct the trial if released on bail.
Court's Directive to Lower Court
Despite the ED's objections, the Supreme Court instructed the lower court to release the accused within a week, based on the conditions set by the special court. Dheber, who is the brother of Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Ejaz Dheber, was initially arrested by the Income Tax Department in connection with allegations of tax evasion and irregularities in the liquor trade in Chhattisgarh and other states, leading to the money laundering case.