In Brief
In this case, the Union of India challenged a High Court order granting bail to persons accused of money laundering and drug-related offences. The Supreme Court held that the mandatory conditions laid down in Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002—including that the prosecution must be heard and the court must be satisfied the accused is likely not guilty—must be strictly followed even when bail is sought under the general CrPC provisions. The Court emphasized that PMLA, being a special statute, overrides general CrPC rules and that 'jail is the rule and bail is exception' for economic crimes. The High Court's bail order was set aside and the respondents were ordered arrested.
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