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Mohit Bathla vs Central Goods and Service Tax

Criminal Appeal · 2022 INSC 376Decided 31 Mar 2022
Criminal Appeal No. 519 of 2022
Uday Umesh Lalit · S. Ravindra Bhat · Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha

Background

The appellant was arrested on 25 December 2020 over a complaint alleging offences under Sections 132/134 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. His regular bail application was rejected by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, prompting this appeal to the Supreme Court. Earlier, in May 2021, the Supreme Court had already granted him ad-interim (temporary) bail on the condition that he deposit Rs. 4 crores in staggered instalments with the tax authorities.

Decision Breakdown

The Court noted that the appellant had already deposited the full Rs. 4 crores as directed and had been complying with the ad-interim bail conditions without issue. Granting leave and allowing the appeal, the Court made the bail permanent on the same terms as the earlier ad-interim order, continuing the existing security and sureties. It clarified that the final treatment of the deposited amount would be decided only when the underlying criminal complaint is finally disposed of, and warned that any misuse of liberty could lead to cancellation of bail.

Lesson Learnt

In economic offence cases, courts may convert ad-interim bail into regular bail once an accused person has demonstrated compliance with monetary and behavioural conditions, but continued liberty remains conditional on good conduct.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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