Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Monday granted bail to Archana Nag in the case registered against her by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
“The bail application of the petitioner stands allowed and the petitioner may be released on bail furnishing bail bonds in the Sum of Rs 2,00,000/-(Rupees Two lakhs) with two local solvent sureties each for the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Court in seisin of the case on such terms and conditions as deem fit and proper by it with following additional conditions …..” reads the order issued by Justice G Satapathy.
The conditions imposed in the bail order are as follows:
(i) The petitioner shall not commit any offence while on bail and she shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person with acquainted the facts of the case so as to him from dissuade disclosing such facts to the Court or to any Officer of ED or tamper with the evidence.
(ii) The petitioner shall appear before the Court in seisin of the case on each and every date of posting without fail unless her attendance is dispensed with and in case the Petitioner fails without sufficient cause to appear in the Court in accordance with the terms of the bail, the learned trial Court may proceed againstthe Petitioner for offence U/S.229-A of. IPC in accordance with law.
(iii) The petitioner shall deposit her Passport, if any, in the Court in seisin of the case till conclusion of trial, unless she is permitted to take back such Passport to use, for specific purpose during the pendency of case.
(iv) The Petitioner shall inform the Court as well as the ED as to her place of residence during the trial by providing her mobile number(s), residential address, e-mail, if any, and other documents in support of proof of residence. The Petitioner shall not switch off her mobile phone or change its number without informing the Court.
(v) In case the petitioner misuses the liberty of bail and in order to Secure his presence, proclamation U/S, 82 of Cr.P.C. is issued and the petitioner fails to appear before the COurt on the date fixed in such procamation, then, the learned trial Court is at liberty to initiate proceeding against her for offence U/S.174-A of the IPC in accordance with law.
(Vi) The Petitioner shall appear before the ED as and when required and shall cooperate with the ED in the present case.
Justice Satapathy in the bail order has clarified that the Court in seisin of the case will be at liberty to cancel the bail of the Petitioner without further reference to this Court, if any of the above conditions.are violated or a case for cancellation of bail is otherwise made out.
“It is, however, made clear that nothing stated in the order shall be construed as a final expression or opinion on the merits of the case and the trial would proceed independently of the observation made above and such observation has been made purely for the purpose of adjudication of the present bail application,” the order added.
Archana has three cases registered against her. The HC had earlier granted her bail on August 3 and April 11 in alleged sextortion cases registered at Khandagiri and Nayapalli police stations, respectively. However, bail in the PMLA case registered against her by the ED had been pending.
Archana has been in jail following her arrest by Khandagiri Police on October 6 last year on charges of human trafficking. She was booked under Section 370 of IPC among other offences.
Her former associate, Shradhanjali Nayak, had alleged that Archana forced women into prostitution and she was also a victim of the racket.
An FIR was also filed at Nayapalli police station by film producer Akshay Parija, accusing her of demanding Rs 3 crore by threatening to leak his photographs and video of his intimate moments with a co-accused.
Read Orissa High Court Order Here:
Orissa HC Order On Archana Nag Bail Plea
