Delhi’s Patiala House Court has extended the interim bail of Supertech’s Chairman and promoter, RK Arora, by 30 days on medical grounds. Arora was arrested in June last year in connection with a money laundering case. Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala, stated that the medical reports of the accused provided on record are supported by diagnostic reports, and their authenticity is undisputed.
The applicant/accused, Ram Kishor Arora, is reported to have been admitted to Kailash Hospital and Heart Institute since February 6, 2024, and is undergoing pre-anesthesia checkup (PAC) evaluation before spine surgery due to his ailment.
While the Enforcement Directorate argued that the investigation is ongoing and extending interim bail may allow tampering with evidence or threats to home buyers, the Court noted no misuse instances of the interim bail granted on January 16, 2024, by the applicant/accused have been reported.
The Court deemed the ED’s contentions baseless in the absence of proof of misuse of interim bail by the applicant/accused. The medical and treatment records provided since the release on interim medical bail effectively rebutted the contentions of misuse raised by the Special Counsel for ED.
On January 16, 2024, the trial court granted bail to Arora on a personal bond of one lac and two-like amount surety. In his interim bail plea, Arora stated that he was referred by jail authorities to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where he was examined and prescribed various treatments. However, it has been observed by the concerned doctors that Arora is not showing signs of improvement.
Arora’s plea emphasized the urgent need for his release on interim bail to ensure accurate diagnosis and adequate medical treatment. The plea highlighted the potential intolerable and irreparable consequences for Arora and his family if his health further deteriorates in custody. The plea further argued that prison medical facilities are inadequate compared to private hospitals and are unable to provide the specialized treatment Arora requires.
According to the Enforcement Directorate, 23 FIRs were registered by various police departments against Supertech Limited and its group companies under relevant sections of the IPC, alleging cheating of at least 670 home buyers for Rs 164 crore.
The ED alleged that funds collected by Supertech Ltd. were diverted to group companies for purchasing properties, with the company acquiring land of lesser value. The accused were alleged to have acquired properties and made illegal gains from proceeds of crime through criminal activities related to scheduled offenses. The ED stated that a prima facie case for offenses punishable under Sections 3 and 4 of the PML Act has been established.