The Delhi High Court rejected bail application filed by former Fortis promoter Shivender Mohan Singh arrested for alleged misappropriation of funds from Religare Finvest Ltd, seeking bail on ground Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
Shivender has been charged under Sections 409/420 IPC and 120B IPC
Shivender is claiming the decision of the High Powered Committee regarding granting bail to prisoners who has been awarded with imprisonment of 7 years or less and criteria for release of under-trial prisoners as highly discriminatory and completely arbitrary.
Counsel appearing for Dr. Shivender submitted that the petitioner is seeking bail on the grounds that with the over-crowding in the jails, no social distancing can be maintained and thus, there is very likelihood of the petitioner being infected with Covid-19 other than this counsel also submitted “…that with the kind of experience the petitioner has in the health sector, particularly, his experience after having worked when the Uttarakhand was flooded, the petitioner be given an opportunity to do community service by grant of interim bail…”
However, Justice Mukta Gupta while dismissing the bail application, made an observation in order that “…petitioner is allegedly involved in offence punishable with more than 7 years of sentence and in more than one case and that too under PMLA and hence does not qualify to be released pursuant to directions of the High Powered Committee.”
-India Legal Bureau