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Synopsis

On Wednesday, the Bombay High Court rejected the bail plea of Sadanand Kadam, a close aide of UBT Shiv Sena's Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) Anil Parab, in the money laundering case filed against him by the central agency.

The single-judge bench of the high court, led by Justice MS Karnik, rejected Kadam's bail application.

Kadam was arrested in March 2023 by the central agency, and he subsequently approached the Bombay High Court to challenge the order of the Special PMLA Court, which had previously rejected his bail application.

The ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) was filed by the central agency based on a complaint lodged with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change against Parab and Kadam. The complaint accused them of allegedly constructing a resort in Dapoli, which was located within a 'No Development Zone'.

The allegation suggested that Kadam and Parab had an understanding wherein Kadam would secure the necessary permissions from the authorities for the development.

Senior Advocate Amit Desai, representing Kadam, argued that there was no predicate offence, and the trial court had declined to take cognizance.

On the other hand, the Additional Solicitor General Devang Vyas representing the agency, argued that there was another predicate offence for which an FIR was registered at Dapoli Police Station. Therefore, he contended that Kadam should not be granted bail.

Notably, the high court is also hearing the petition filed by UBT Shiv Sena MLA Leader Anil Parab, seeking to quash the FIR filed against him.

The Enforcement Directorate has recently filed an application before the high court, seeking to intervene in Parab's petition.

The agency claims that Parab's petition aims to bring an end to a part of the predicate offence, which forms the substratum of the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) proceedings.

Case title: Sadanand Kadam vs ED