High Court Grants Bail to Wadhwan Brothers in Yes Bank Case

The Bombay High Court has granted bail to DHFL promoters Dheeraj and Kapil Wadhwan in the 2020 Yes Bank money laundering case. The decision was based on their lengthy detention and the unlikely near-term commencement of trial. Concerns of prolonged pre-trial incarceration violating Article 21 were noted.

The Bombay High Court has ruled in favor of granting bail to DHFL promoters Dheeraj and Kapil Wadhwan in connection with the Yes Bank money laundering case initiated in 2020. Justice Milind Jadhav cited the extended incarceration period and the unlikely start of trial proceedings as significant reasons for the decision.

The court acknowledged the brothers have been in custody for over four years, surpassing half of the potential imprisonment duration they face if convicted. It emphasized the fundamental right to a speedy trial under Article 21, further noting the absence of any timeframe for concluding the investigation or starting the trial.

Justice Jadhav stated that continued detention was unwarranted, given the delay in the proceedings not solely attributable to the Wadhwans. The Enforcement Directorate has yet to frame charges, despite having submitted draft charges in May 2023, leaving the case's status in indefinite limbo.