No cogent proof of ₹5,000 Cr bribe: Court grants Anticipatory bail to PCI Chief Montu Patel

The PCI is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Special Judge Sushant Changotra of Rouse Avenue Court in a July 23 order, observed that while the court must balance individual liberty with the right to a fair investigation, the facts presented did not justify custodial interrogation.

“In my considered opinion, this Court will fail in its duty, if the personal liberty of the applicant /accused is not protected in view of the aforementioned proposition of law and the facts at hand, specially when the allegations are prima facie not supported by any cogent material,” the judge remarked.

Patel was booked by the CBI for alleged corruption and irregularities in the inspection and approval of pharmacy colleges, following a preliminary enquiry that flagged systemic manipulation, pre-election inducements and post-election nepotism. The CBI had also conducted searches at Patel’s premises.

However, the Court noted that despite investigating the matter for over two years, the agency could not produce material linking Patel to the alleged Rs. 5,000 crore bribe or Rs. 118 crore in questionable property acquisitions.

The Court pointed out that even during Patel’s interrogation, he was not confronted with these claims.

The investigating officer’s claim that the bribe figure was derived from "secret information" and "media reports" did not find favour with the court. “These facts on the face of it make the allegations qua the above stated quantum highly doubtful,” the Court said.

Further, the Court observed that Patel had already cooperated with the investigation, was not a flight risk, and no recoveries were to be made from him.

Granting bail on a bond of Rs. 1 lakh with a surety of the same amount, the Court directed Patel not to tamper with evidence and to cooperate with the investigation.