The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Amar Sadhuram Mulchandani, the former chairperson of Seva Vikas Co-operative Bank, in a money laundering case, emphasizing that legal principles must take precedence even within the rigid framework of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, made the ruling, underscoring that the law requires compassionate consideration for those classified as “sick and infirm.” “The argument that treatment can be provided in a government hospital doesn’t override the statute,” the court noted during its judgment.
Mulchandani, who has been in custody for over a year, argued that he suffers from chronic kidney disease and is unable to manage essential daily tasks behind bars. The defense highlighted his age—67 years—and the fact that he was not implicated in any predicate offense. Medical reports from a four-member panel at JJ Group of Hospitals supported his claims.
After evaluating the evidence, the court ruled in favor of granting him bail, reiterating that humane considerations must not be overshadowed by the severity of the PMLA’s provisions.
