#economic offence

The Bombay High Court granted bail to an accused under the MPID Act and IPC, holding that voluntary investment by depositors and absence of fraudulent intent negate the essential ingredients of cheating. This clarifies that mere business losses, even in investment schemes, do not automatically constitute criminal dishonesty under the MPID Act - protecting first-time entrepreneurs from overcriminalization.

The Allahabad High Court granted bail in a job fraud case under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, holding that the absence of any credible evidence showing the accused received the alleged sum renders pre-trial detention disproportionate. This reinforces that Article 21’s right to liberty prevails over speculative accusations in non-violent economic offences, especially where cooperation is assured and custody has exceeded six months.

Chhattisgarh High Court upholds bail denial in a Rs. 540-crore coal levy syndicate case, ruling that prima facie involvement-established through seized diaries and Section 164 statements-outweighs the accused's absence from the FIR and charge sheets. The judgment reinforces that prolonged evasion and circumstantial evidence can justify continued custody in economic offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.