Supreme Court says PMLA bail rules cannot trump constitutional right to speedy trial
The Supreme Court held that strict bail conditions under the PMLA cannot override Article 21 guarantees, granting bail to an undertrial accused amid a lengthy money-laundering case.
In a New Delhi hearing, the Supreme Court declared that the stringent bail criteria set by the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act cannot supersede the fundamental rights enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution. Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi said an accused cannot be kept in custody until the trial concludes and must be released on bail if the proceedings are unduly delayed. The bench granted bail to a man alleged to have laundered more than Rs 6,210 crore through a network of 62 shell companies and relatives, who was arrested in December 2024.
Citing the massive volume of documents and the need to examine roughly 98 witnesses, the court warned against subjecting the accused to the rigours of detention while the case proceeds. While acknowledging the seriousness of large-scale economic crimes, the judges stressed the need to balance state interests with individual liberties. The decision referenced the earlier Manish Sisodia judgment, reinforcing that pre-trial incarceration cannot become a de facto punishment.
Why it matters
The ruling limits how anti-money-laundering laws can restrict bail, protecting constitutional rights even in high-profile financial crimes.
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