Sonu Kumar Thakur's bail application rejected by Calcutta High Court citing flight risk, societal impact, and substantial incriminating evidence.
In a significant ruling, the Calcutta High Court has rejected the bail application of Sonu Kumar Thakur, who stands accused of being the mastermind behind a massive multi-crore betting scam. The decision was delivered by Justice Jay Sengupta, emphasizing the gravity of the alleged offenses, the societal impact, and the substantial incriminating evidence against the accused.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed the bail application, arguing that Thakur is a flight risk and highlighting his alleged involvement in laundering proceeds from illegal betting activities through multiple mule accounts. During the investigation, 519 mule accounts were linked to Thakur, with a total turnover running into several crores. The ED also pointed out that Thakur had previously absconded and managed to evade arrest until June 2025.
The court noted that the conditions under Section 45(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, were not met, making the granting of bail untenable. Despite the petitioner's argument that he had been incarcerated for over a year without significant trial progress, the court found that the seriousness of the offense, potential for tampering with evidence, and the possibility of influencing witnesses were substantial enough to outweigh the delays.
Citing judgments from the Supreme Court of India, the court reinforced the importance of considering the likelihood of the accused absconding and the societal impact of the crime when deciding on bail. The court also addressed procedural concerns raised by Thakur's counsel regarding the legality of his arrest and detention, ultimately finding no prejudice against the accused.
The ED's ongoing investigation has already led to the attachment of Rs. 8.2 crores linked to Thakur, with further investigations expected to uncover more assets. The court's decision underscores the judiciary's commitment to upholding the law and ensuring that individuals accused of severe economic offenses face the full weight of legal scrutiny.
As proceedings continue, this case remains a pivotal example of the legal system's approach to handling complex financial crimes, with significant implications for how such cases are prosecuted in the future.
Bottom Line :
Bail application under PMLA rejected due to flight risk, societal impact of the alleged offense, and substantial incriminating evidence against the accused.
Statutory provision(s):
Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 Section 45, Constitution of India, 1950 Articles 21 and 22, Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 Section 167, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 Section 187(6)
Sonu Kumar Thakur v. Enforcement Directorate, (Calcutta) : Law Finder Doc id # 2961919
