Money Laundering, PMLA, Bail, Woman, Custody, Fraudulent Scheme, Proceeds of Crime, High Court, BNSS
 10 Apr, 2026
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Dimple Kharour Vs. Directorate Of Enforcement Through Its Assistant Director

  Punjab & Haryana High Court CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)
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Case Background

As per case facts, the petitioner was involved in a fraudulent investment scheme where customers invested in "Cloud Particles" with promises of guaranteed monthly returns. It was discovered that money ...

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Document Text Version

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -1-

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH

    CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)

Date of Decision: 10.04.2026

      Date of uploading:  10.04.2026

DIMPLE KHAROUR

... Petitioner

Versus

DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT THROUGH ITS ASSISTANT 

DIRECTOR 

...Respondent

CORAM:  HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE  JASJIT SINGH BEDI

Present: Mr.Vikram Chaudhri, Sr. Advocate with 

Ms. Hargun Sandhu, Advocate and 

Mr. Duja Bhagwan, Advocate 

for the petitioner.

Mr. Satya Pal Jain, Addl. Solicitor General of India with 

Mr. Mr. Akash Vashisth, Central Govt. counsel 

for the respondent-ED.

Mr. Harmandeep Singh Saini, Advocate with 

Mr. Dushant Jog, Advocate 

for the complainant.

Mr. Harkanwar Jeet Singh, Asstt. A.G., Punjab.

****

JASJIT SINGH BEDI, J.

The prayer in the present petition under Section 483 of BNSS,

2023  is  for  the  grant  of regular bail  in  case  bearing  Complaint  Case

No.COMA-2-2025   arising   out  of  ECIR/JLZO/26/2024  dated  25.11.2024

registered under Section 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

2. A s   per   the   prosecution   complaint   of   the   Directorate  of

Enforcement its Jalandhar Zonal Office shared information under Section

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -2-

66(2) of PMLA with the police of Police Station Gautam Budh Nagar

(Noida) leading to lodging of FIR no.463 dated 24.11.2024 by Police Station

Sector 58, Noida, against M/s Vuenow Marketing Services Limited (VMSL,

accused no.5), M/s Zebyte Infotech Private Limited (ZIPL, accused no.7),

M/s Zebyte Rental Planet Private Limited (ZRPPL, accused no.8) and others

regarding offence under Sections 318 (4), 61(2), 316(2) of BNS. The facts

disclosed   as   per   the   said   FIR   are   that   the   said   Zonal   Office   of   the

Complainant Department had conducted searches under Foreign Exchange

Management Act (FEMA) on 17.10.2024 concerning companies like accused

no.5 to 8. During those proceedings it came out that accused no.5 had been

offering customers an investment opportunity to buy Data Centre Assets or

Cloud Particles under its “MyCloudParticle” brand. The scheme under which

this offer was being made, was S-L-B (Sale and Lease Back) model. As per

this   model,   a   customer   would   buy   a   Cloud   Particle   which   would   be

immediately leased back by VMSL through its marketing affiliates above

said ZIPL and ZRPPL on long term basis for a minimum guaranteed monthly

rent. Each such Cloud Particle was of cloud storage space 1 TB. It was also

found out that M/s Vuneow Infotech Private Limited (VIPL) purchases

servers and IT equipment from different suppliers and sells the same to

VMSL which then sells the Cloud Particles to different investors who would

make these purchases. This space is leased back through market affiliates

ZIPL and ZRPPL. These marketing affiliates pay assured monthly rental

income to the investors by leasing back the Cloud Particles from investors

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -3-

for a minimum period of 10 years. These searches were conducted at the Data

Centre of M/s VIPL at Khasra No.1246/3, Morta, Meertu Road, Ghaziabad

(U.P.) on 17.10.2024 and 18.10.2024. It was found by 18.10.2024 that total

storage capacity active in the servers there at that time was only 553 TB out

of which only 1.9 TB space was lying consumed. Remaining space 551.1 TB

yet was empty. This 1.9 TB data also pertains to test Openstack cloud data

and no data of any individual customer was available in the servers nor any

customer care type service was being provided from the servers. 1119 servers

also were found there which had no power supply. Those were not in working

condition. Financial irregularities regarding inadmissible ITC obtained by

ZRPPL were also noticed. The VMSL office  at Zirakpur, Punjab, was

searched on 17.10.2024 where also huge irregularities were found. Similarly,

the search conducted on 17.10.2024 at Chhat Bir Office, Mohali of VIPL also

had brought out grave irregularities. The total live data storage capacity was

2701 TB across all data centres at different locations. The data storage

facility provided by ZRPPL to its clients was found substantially low as

compared   to   storage   facility   leased   by   that   company  from   investors.

Statements of officials of these Centres were recorded. Documents were

taken into police possession. Bank record also was collected. It was found

from the Data Centre of M/s VIPL Morta, Meertu Road, Ghaziabad (U.P.)

that in the absence of any customer data there could be no rental income

generated by ZIPL and ZRPPL who had taken the Cloud Particles on lease

from individual customers and claims to have given on rent to customers for

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -4-

data storage and other services. The financial trail was studied which brought

out that VMSL pays money to VIPL against purchase of servers. VMSL

receives money from individuals/customers against sale of Cloud Particles.

Those Companies ZIPL and ZRPPL were found receiving rental money from

VIPL instead of receiving it from customers. This money then was being paid

to the individual in the form of rent. In such manner, the money collected

from investors was simply being rotated and paid to them as monthly assured

rental income. It was a fraudulent investment scheme where rents were being

paid out to previous customers using the capital from new customers. No

money was being paid from profit earned by the operation. It was a non-

sustainable   business   model.  These   companies  VMSL,  VIPL,   ZIPL  and

ZRPPL thereby had committed offence under Sections 318(1), 318(4), 316(1)

and 31(2) of BNS. The said case FIR no.463/2024 was referred by Police

Station   Sector   58,   Noida   to   Crime   Branch   Noida   where   it   is   under

investigation. FIR no.311 and FIR no.250, both dated 18.12.2024, were

registered separately at Police Station Sahnewal and Police Station Division

No.6, Jalandhar, under Sections 316 (2), 318(4), 61(2) and 111 of BNS

against Sukhwinder Singh Kharour as CEO of VMSL and ZIPL. VMSL had

committed cheating by selling Cloud Particles to others. In absence of

substantial cloud storage facility, representation was made by VMSL that

they had signed MOUs with Bulgarian and Himachal Pradesh Authorities and

fake future prospects for future growth of the Company were projected. The

₹accused party had generated  3717 crores by selling Cloud Particles, which

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -5-

do not exist, thereby they cheated and breached the trust of various investors.

The current ECIR was registered by the complainant/Department. During

investigation, the role of the petitioner was established. As per investigation,

she is one of the shareholders of Vuenow group of companies and her

husband   Sukhwinder   Singh   Kharour   is   a   Director   of   said   companies.

Investigation brought out that by rotating the money in the abovesaid manner

₹the Proceeds of Crime (POC) about   3717 crores were generated through

such criminal activities by the accused and above said companies. It also was

₹found that from this amount about  40.85 crores was received by the

petitioner from VMSL and VIPL. A huge part of this amount had gone to her

₹personal account. She was also found to have diverted over   85 lakhs from

VMSL to M/s  Fruitchaat Entertainment Private Limited in which she was

₹one of the Directors. About  42 lakhs were diverted from VMSL to M/s Avni

ITinfra Ventures Limited in which again she is one of the Directors. She had

participated actively in the involved crime, had diverted, and layered the

POC. She was arrested on 28.02.2025 at about 06:15 pm at Indira Gandhi

International Airport, New Delhi. In that backdrop, and after completion of

investigation   qua   her,   the   prosecution   complaint   stood   filed   by   the

respondent department. 

3. The learned Senior counsel for the petitioner contends that the

petitioner who is a lady of the age of about 45 years alongwith a minor child

of the age of 15 years has no role in the affairs of M/s VMSL and M/s VIPL.

She was only a shareholder to the extent of 7%, 8/9 years ago. Taking the

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -6-

allegations to be correct, the petitioner and entities connected to her have

received an amount of approximately Rs.41 crores. She is in custody since

28.02.2025. The complaint comprises of 7000 pages with 70 documents. The

cognizance order has been set aside by this Court. The Trial is unlikely to

conclude anytime soon as the scheduled offences emanating out of FIR

No.463 dated 24.11.2024 U/s 318(4), 61(2) & 316(2) BNS, P.S. P.S. Sector

58, Noida District Court, Commissionerate Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P., FIR

No.250 dated 18.12.2024, U/s 316(2), 318(4), 61(2) & 111 BNS, 2023, P.S.

Division No.6, Ludhiana, Punjab, FIR No.311 dated 18.12.2024, U/s 316(2),

318(4), 61(2) & 111 of BNS, 2023, P.S. Sahnewal, Ludhiana, Punjab, FIR

No.339 dated 26.12.2025, U/s 318(4), 316(2) & 61(2) BNS, 2023, P.S.

Division No.7, Ludhiana, Punjab, FIR No.63 dated 11.03.2026, U/s 111,

316(2), 318(4) & 61 (2) of BNS, 2023, P.S. P.S. Sarabha Nagar, Punjab, FIR

No.90 dated 28.06.2025, U/s 318(4), 316(2) & 61 BNS, 2023, P.S. P.S.

Barnala, Punjab, FIR No.777 dated 23.09.2025, U/s 318(4), 316(2), 61(2) &

3(5) of BNS, 2023 & Section 3 The Maharashtra Protection of Interests of

Depositors (in Financial Establishment), Act, 1999, P.S. P.S. Ramnagar,

Maharashtra and FIR No.17 dated 06.01.2026, U/s 61(2), 316(5), 318(4) &

3(5) BNS, 2023 & 6(1) Madhya Pradesh Protection of Interests of Depositors

Act,   2000,   P.S.   P.S.   Timarni,   Harda,   Madhya   Pradesh  are   still   under

investigation. The immovable properties in the name of the petitioner already

stand attached to the extent of more than Rs.6 crores. Other than immovable

property, 09 vehicles in the name of the petitioner and her bank accounts also

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -7-

stand attached. If the petitioner was to be convicted, the sentence imposed

upon her would be imprisonment for a maximum period of 07 years and she

has already undergone more than one year as an undertrial. The provisions of

Section 45 of the PMLA Act would not apply to her as she is a lady. He,

therefore prays that the petitioner be granted the concession of bail.

4. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the respondent-ED

and the learned counsel for the complainant while referring to the reply dated

12.11.2025 contend that the petitioner and her husband alongwith others have

generated proceeds of crime to the extent of more than Rs.3700 crores and

the investigation are still pending. An amount of approximately Rs.41 crores

has come directly into the account of the petitioner or into the account of

entities controlled by her. Merely because she is a lady would not ipso facto

entitle her to the concession of bail. Therefore, the present petition is liable to

be dismissed. They, however, concede that the petitioner is in custody since

28.02.2025 and that the order taking cognizance has been set aside.

5. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties.

6. The role of the petitioner-Dimple Kharour is mentioned in para

27 of the reply dated 12.11.2025 and the same reads as under:-

27. Role of Dimple Kharour

:

i. Dimple Kharour is observed to be a shareholder to the tune of 7%

in M/s VMSL in 2018$19 and is one of the beneficial owners of the

proceeds generated by the company through modus operandi as

discussed above.

ii. On analysis of the bank accounts, it has been gathered that

Dimple Kharour in her personal accounts and entities related to

her, had received Rs 40.85 Crore from M/s VMSL and M/s VIPL.

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -8-

iii. During the course of scrutiny of bank accounts, it was observed

that Dimple Kharour in her personal accounts have received a

substantial amount of at least Rs. 16.42 crores from M/s VMSL and

Rs. 2.98 crores from M/s VIPL. The details are as below:$

SN Source of

Funds

Received in which

account

Amounts (in crores)

1 M/s VMSL Personal account of

Dimple Kharour

16.42

2. M/s VIPL 2.98

iv. Also, the scrutiny of the bank accounts revealed that a significant

amount of Rs.20.18 crores have been transferred from the account

of Vuenow group to M/s Kharour Films LLP which is a partnership

firm of Dimple Kharour and Sh. Sukhwinder Singh Kharour. Being

the active partner and authorized signatory and the approver of the

bank accounts of M/s Kharour Film LLP, Dimple Kharour is

actively control and manage all the activities of the said entity. The

details are as below:$

SN Source of Funds Received in A/c of Amounts (in

crores)

1 M/s VMSL, M/s

VIPL & M/s

Kaspi Services

Pvt Ltd

Kharour Films LLP 33.52 Crore

v. Also, it is found that the diversions of Rs. 85.35 lakhs from M/s

VMSL to M/s Fruitchaat Entertainment Pvt Ltd where Dimple

Kharour and Sh. Abhaydeep Mutti are the directors. The details are

as below:$ The details are as below:$

SN Source of Funds Received in which

account

Amounts (in

crores)

1 M/s VMSL Fruitchaat

Entertainment Pvt.

Ltd.

0.85

vi. Also, there are transfer of funds of Rs. 41.9 lakhs from M/s VMSL

to M/s Avni ITInfra Ventures Limited Wherein Dimple Kharour, Sh.

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -9-

Rahul Bhargav and Smt. Ruchi Srivastav are the directors.

Moreover, there are transfers of Rs. 12.10 crores from M/s VMSL

and M/s VIPL to M/s Can and Able Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. which

has the same address as M/s Avni ITinfra Ventures Limited i.e. Plot

No 82 Industrial Area, Phase$1, Chandigarh – 160002.

SN Source of Funds Received in which

account

Amounts (in

crores)

1 M/s VMSL Avni ITInfra Venturs

Ltd.

0.42

In the above$mentioned companies, Dimple Kharour have

following roles:

S. No. Name of company Role of Dimple Kharour

1. M/s Kharour Films

LLP

Designated partner

(06.02.2021 to till date)

2. M/s Fruitchaat

Entertainment Pvt Ltd

Director (29.09.2021 to till date)

3. M/s Avni Itinfra

Ventures Limited

Director (05.02.2021 to till date)

vii. During the course of investigation, it is found that Dimple

Kharour had incorporated M/s Kharour Film LLP for production of

movies. She is having 80% of the shareholding of the said entity. The

source of funds of the said entity is the proceeds of crime from M/s

VMSL and M/s VIPL.

viii. During the course of investigation, it is found that Dimple

Kharour had purchased six immovable properties registered in her

name purchased from the proceeds of crime received in her accounts

from the accounts of Vuenow Group.

ix. During the course of investigation, it is found that Dimple

Kharour used to attend the seminars which were conducted by

Vuenow Group on the invitation of her husband Sukhwinder Singh

Kharour. It is pertinent to mention here that she is well aware about

the project 'mycloudparticle'.

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -10-

x. During the course of investigation, it is found that Dimple

Kharour is the authorized signatory and initiator & approver of the

bank account in the name of M/s Kharour Film LLP. She used to

make the payments and used to sign the cheques of the said bank

account.

xi. During the course of investigation, it is found that Dimple

Kharour is the authorized signatory and initiator & approver of the

bank account in the name of Fruitchaat Entertainment Pvt Ltd. She

is having 60% of shareholding. She used to make the payments to

the persons/ entities.

xii. During the course of investigation, it is found that Dimple

Kharour used to make the huge expense towards purchase of gold,

suits, travels, boutique and others. Dimple Kharour has failed to

state the satisfactory remarks/ reasons for the transactions.

xiii. During the course of investigation, it is found that Dimple

Kharour is the director of the company namely M/s Kharour Films

Limited registered at 1

st

Floor, 6$7 St. Mary At Hill, London,

England. She is having 100 shares of the said entity. Also, Dimple

Kharour is one of the directors of M/s Vuenow Technologies Pvt. Ltd

registered at Shaw Centre, Singapore. The purpose to incorporate

the said firm was to seek new opportunities regarding IT technology

in South Asia Country. To identify the role of these entities in the

instant case, the investigation is under progress.

xiv. As elaborated above of this complaint, Dimple Kharour had

knowingly assisted Sukhwinder Singh and indirectly assisted

Sukhwinder Singh Kharour in one or more processes or activity

connected with the proceeds of crime including its concealment,

acquisition, use and further in projecting and claiming the said POC

as untainted thereby had committed the offence of money laundering

within the meaning of section 3 of Prevention of Money Laundering

Act, 2002, which is punishable under section 4 of the Act ibid.”

7. Accepting the allegations to be correct, the petitioner and entities

controlled by her have received an amount of approximately Rs.41 crores

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -11-

from M/s VMSL and M/s VIPL. She is in custody since 28.02.2025 but even

the cognizance has not been taken till date as the earlier order taking

cognizance was set aside by this Court vide order dated 27.01.2026 passed in

CRM-M-34731-2025. The prosecution has cited as many as 52 prosecution

witnesses. The complaint comprises of 7000 pages and 70 documents.

8. As many as 08 FIRs stand registered against the petitioner and

her co-accused for having committed scheduled offences. The details of the

said FIRs and their respective stages of investigation are as under:-

S. No. Particulars of FIR Nature   of

offences

Police Station  Status of case

1. FIR   No.463   dated

24.11.2024

318(4),   61(2)

& 316(2) BNS

P.S. Sector 58,

Noida   District

Court,

Commissioner

ate   Gautam

Budh   Nagar,

U.P. 

Under

investigation

2. FIR   No.250   dated

18.12.2024

316(2), 318(4),

61(2)   &   111

BNS, 2023

Division   No.6,

Ludhiana,

Punjab

Cancellation

report   dated

08.01.2025

filed

3. FIR   No.311   dated

18.12.2024

316(2), 318(4),

61(2) & 111 of

BNS, 2023

Sahnewal,

Ludhiana,

Punjab

Cancellation

report   dated

08.01.2025

filed

4. FIR   No.339   dated

26.12.2025

318(4),   316(2)

&   61(2)   BNS,

2023

Division   No.7,

Ludhiana,

Punjab

Under

investigation

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -12-

5. FIR   No.63   dated

11.03.2026

111,   316(2),

318(4)   &   61

(2)   of   BNS,

2023

P.S.   Sarabha

Nagar, Punjab

Under

investigation

6. FIR   No.90   dated

28.06.2025

318(4),   316(2)

&   61   BNS,

2023

P.S.   Barnala,

Punjab

Under

investigation

7. FIR   No.777   dated

23.09.2025

318(4), 316(2),

61(2) & 3(5) of

BNS,   2023   &

Section   3   The

Maharashtra

Protection   of

Interests   of

Depositors   (in

Financial

Establishment)

, Act, 1999

P.S. Ramnagar,

Maharashtra

Under

investigation

8. FIR   No.17   dated

06.01.2026

61(2),   316(5),

318(4) & 3(5)

BNS,   2023   &

6(1)   Madhya

Pradesh

Protection   of

Interests   of

Depositors Act,

2000

P.S.   Timarni,

Harda,

Madhya

Pradesh

Under

investigation

Apparently, as the investigation into the scheduled offences and

the present complaint are still underway, it is unlikely that the Trial would

begin anytime soon.

9. The immovable properties in the name of the petitioner already

stand attached and the details of the same are under:-

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -13-

B.Immovable Properties:$

S. No. Description of

Immovable

property

Owner of

property

Sale deed

No.

Area Amount of

Immovable

property (Rs.)

1. Village Todar

Majra, Kharar,

SAS Nagar

Dimple

Kharour W/o

Sukhwinder

Singh

Kharour

Sale deed

No.2023$

24/15/1/195

90 dated

11.03.2024

05 kanal Rs.1,30,00,000/$

2. Village Todar

Majra, Kharar,

SAS Nagar

Dimple

Kharour W/o

Sukhwinder

Singh

Kharour

Sale deed

No.2023$

24/15/1/195

93 dated

11.03.2024

03 kanal

12.5 marla

Rs.15,00,000/$

3. Agricultural

land at Village

Makran, Kharar

Dimple

Kharour W/o

Sukhwinder

Singh

Kharour

Sale deed

No.2024$

24/198/55

dated

25.04.2024

12 kanal 16

marla

Rs.45,00,000/$

4. Plot No.28 Min

Waka Bhan

Colony Area

Village Abloval,

Patiala

Dimple

Kharour W/o

Sukhwinder

Singh

Kharour

2021$

22/11/1/159

06 dated

27.01.2022

126 sq.

yards

Rs.14,00,000/$

5. H. No.169,

Phase$3B1,

Sector 60, SAS

Nagar, Mohali

Dimple

Kharour W/o

Sukhwinder

Kharour

2021/3/1/11

149 dated

16.02.2021

500 sq. yds Rs.4,00,00,000/$

Total Rs.6,06,95,000/$

Additionally,  09  vehicles  and  all  the  bank  accounts of  the

petitioner have also been attached.

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -14-

10. In   Shashi   Bala   @   Shashi   Bala   Singh   Vs.   Directorate   of

Enforcement,   Criminal   Appeal   No.212   of   2025   arising  out   of   SLP

(Criminal) No.16260 of 2024, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held as under:-

“On its plain reading, the first proviso to subSection (1) of

Section 45 operates as an exception to clause (ii) of sub$Section

(1) of Section 45 of the PMLA. Therefore, when a woman applies

for bail, the twin conditions in clause (ii) need not be satisfied.

Though we have granted time to the learned Additional Solicitor

General to make submissions in support of the submission that

notwithstanding the proviso to sub$Section (1) of Section 45 of the

PMLA, rigours of clause (ii) of sub$Section (1) of Section 45 of

the PMLA will apply even to a woman, today the learned Solicitor

General appears and states that rigours of clause (ii) of sub$

Section (1) of Section 45 of the PMLA will not apply to a woman,

in view of proviso to sub$Section (1) of Section 45 of the PMLA.

A charge has been framed. However, there are 67 witnesses

and recording of evidence is yet to commence. Our attention is

invited to the counter affidavit filed by the respondent and, in

particular, what is stated in paragraph Nos. 9 to 16.

There are no antecedents of the appellant brought on

record.

As rigours of clause (ii) of sub$Section (1) of Section 45 of

the PMLA will not apply, the Special Court ought to have treated

the application as the one under Section 439 of the Code of

Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short, "Cr.P.C.") or Section 483 of

the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, "BNSS").

Hence, the first proviso to sub$Section (1) of Section 437 of the

Cr.P.C. (the first proviso to sub$Section (1) of Section 480 of the

BNSS) will apply. As the predicate offence is not under the

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, the

maximum sentence can be of 7 years. The appellant is a woman.

There is no possibility of the trial concluding in near future,

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -15-

considering the fact that 67 witnesses are to be examined. There

are no antecedents of the appellant brought on record. Therefore,

a case is made out for enlarging the appellant on bail till the

conclusion of the trial.

For that purpose, the appellant shall be produced before

the Special Court within a maximum period of one week from

today. The Special Court shall enlarge the appellant on bail on

appropriate terms and conditions including the condition of

regularly and punctually attending the Special Court and

cooperating with the Special Court for early conclusion of the

trial. Apart from the other conditions which will be imposed by

the Special Court, a condition of deposit of the passport shall be

imposed. The learned counsel for the respondent shall be heard

on the terms and conditions.

We make it clear that if the appellant fails to cooperate for

early disposal of the case, it will be open for the respondent to

apply for cancellation of bail.

The appeal is accordingly allowed.”

 

(Emphasis supplied)

11. In   Arvind Walia Vs. Directorate of Enforcement & another,

SLP(Crl.) No.2461 of 2026, the Hon’ble Supreme Court held as under:-

7. We have taken note of the fact that prosecution complaint has

already been filed by the ED and that the appellant (aged

65 years) has been in custody for over 8 months. We have also

taken note of the fact that the appellant, prior to his arrest,

physically appeared before the ED on five occasions. Presently,

there seems to be no necessity to continue him in custody. What

remains for consideration is the restrictions imposed by Section

45 of the PMLA, 2002.

8. Section 45 of the PMLA, 2002 cannot be interpreted to justify

indefinite detention. In appropriate cases, the constitutional

courts must intervene and have, in fact, intervened in the past to

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -16-

safeguard the right to personal liberty of the accused under

Article 21. The twin conditions under Section 45 cannot override

the constitutional safeguards under Article 21 of the Constitution

(see:Manish Sisodia v Enforcement Directorate, 2024 SCC

OnLine SC 1920). Applying this principle, this Court has granted

bail in appropriate cases irrespective of the period of custody.

9. In view of the above, we are of the considered opinion that

further detention of the appellant pending trial is not necessary.

The appeal, thus, deserves acceptance and the appellant may be

admitted to an order for grant of bail.”

(Emphasis supplied)

12. Apparently, the conditions under Section 45 of the PMLA Act

would not apply to the case of a woman in view of the order passed in

Shashi Bala @ Shashi Bala Singh

  (supra). In the case of  Arvind Walia

(supra) even a man was granted the concession of bail after having been in

custody for 08 months. In the instant case, the petitioner is a woman who has

undergone more than 01 year of actual custody.

13. Keeping   in   view   the   period   of   custody   undergone  by   the

petitioner and the fact that the Trial is not likely to be concluded anytime

soon, the further incarceration of the petitioner is not required.

14.  Thus without commenting on the merits of the case, the present

petition is allowed and the petitioner-Dimple Kharour W/o Sukwhinder

Singh Kharour is ordered to be released on bail subject to her furnishing bail

bonds and surety bonds to the satisfaction of learned CJM/Duty Magistrate,

concerned.

CRM-M-55691-2025 (O&M)                                                                          -17-

15. The petitioner shall appear before the office of the Directorate of

Enforcement Zonal Office, The Mirage, Cool Road, Jalandhar, Punjab on the

first Monday of every month till the conclusion of the Trial and inform in

writing each time that she is not involved in any other crime other than the

cases mentioned in this order.

16. The petitioner (or anyone on her behalf) shall prepare an FDR in

the sum of Rs.5,00,000/- and deposit the same with the Trial Court. The same

would be liable to be forfeited as per law in case of the absence of the

petitioner from the trial without sufficient cause.

17. The petitioner shall surrender her passport forthwith (if not

already   surrendered)   to   the   respondent/Directorate  of   Enforcement

immediately and it shall not be released to her under any circumstances

whatsoever without an application being moved in that regard before this

Court.

18.  The petition stands disposed of. 

(JASJIT SINGH BEDI)

JUDGE

10.04.2026

JITESH  Whether speaking/reasoned:-  Yes/No

Whether reportable:-          Yes/No

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