Overview
- The Supreme Court set aside the Delhi High Court’s August 19, 2025 denial of bail and ordered Dham’s release subject to conditions to be fixed by the trial court, including passport surrender and travel restrictions.
- The Court noted Dham has been in custody since July 9, 2024, cognizance has not yet been taken, and there is no realistic likelihood of the trial commencing soon.
- Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe emphasized Article 21’s speedy-trial guarantee, stating economic offences are not a homogeneous class and PMLA constraints cannot justify indefinite incarceration.
- The judgment recorded delay attributable to the Enforcement Directorate, including an approximately eight-month stay it obtained that stalled proceedings before the petition was withdrawn.
- The money-laundering case arises from 2022 CBI complaints by IDBI Bank and Bank of Maharashtra, with the ED alleging diversion through about 500 shell companies and having provisionally attached Amtek assets of about Rs 5,115 crore.