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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Friday "granted bail" to Mumbai-based former TV anchor Pinky Irani in connection with a Rs. 200 crore money laundering case involving conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

The court was dealing with Irani's plea challenging the trial court’s order denying her bail.

The bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said, "Taking into account the facts and circumstances of the case, the petitioner is admitted to bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 5 lakh with two sureties of like amount".

In April, counsel for Irani had contended, “Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) has been imposed on me. My Lords! I was arrested on November 30, 2022, on the same allegation in respect of Rs. 74.60 lakh. I was arrested by PMLA authorities, and on the same allegations, MCOCA was also imposed on me”.

The counsel had stated, “Let them (Delhi Police) file a reply. I am informed that the other matters related to the case are coming up on April 19. I will be arguing on a pure question of law, and I don't think we need to require any documents in this regard, except for the allegations. Simple issue! My lord! My humble submission is whether MCOCA will be applicable to me or not. I am in custody since Nov 2022.”

On the contrary, Additional Standing Counsel (ASC) Nandita Rao had appeared for the Delhi Police and had sought four weeks to file a reply to the plea. “My lords! We'll need time as she is a co-accused in the Sukesh Chandrashekhar matter. We are humbly requesting at least 4 weeks to file the detailed status report, because there is a confessional statement, there are recoveries, there are lots of documents that we'll have to bring on record”, Rao had submitted.

The single-judge bench had then stated, “The petitioner seeks bail in FIR No. 208/2021. Counsel submits that the trial court, by the impugned order dated March 4, 2023, has wrongly dismissed the bail application. He submits that even MCOCA is not attributed in the present case”.

Irani was allegedly Sukesh’s aide, who introduced him to actress Jacqueline Fernandes and many other celebrities. She allegedly received crores of rupees from Sukesh for arranging meetings inside Tihar Jail.

Background

It is to be noted that Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Shailendra Malik of Patiala House Court sent Irani to judicial custody in December 2022. While sending her, the court had taken note of the submissions of the Economic Offences Wing (EoW) of Delhi Police.

The EOW had stated that to prevent Irani from tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses, judicial remand was needed. It had also stated that it was needed to prevent Irani from committing any further offence, besides conducting a proper investigation.

According to sources, Irani used to portray Sukesh as a business tycoon, and she was instrumental in facilitating certain Bollywood personalities getting in touch with the main accused, Sukesh Chandrashekhar, in the extortion case.

Case Title: Pinky Irani v. Govt of NCT of Delhi

Statue: The Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act