A special PMLA court has turned down the bail plea of Purushottam Chavan, husband of an IPS officer, who has been in judicial custody for over a year in a high-profile money laundering case linked to a Rs 263 crore income tax refund scam.
Bail Plea Cites Severe Medical Conditions
Chavan, 52, sought bail primarily on grounds of serious medical conditions, claiming his health was life-threatening and required continuous specialist supervision. However, the court found no compelling medical evidence to support urgent release, stating that his ailments could be adequately managed by the jail’s Chief Medical Officer or JJ Hospital.
Court Highlights Gravity of Economic Offence
The court emphasized the seriousness of the offence, noting, “The offence is a serious economic offence affecting the socio-economic condition of society and the financial integrity of the nation. Therefore, the bail application deserves to be rejected.” Chavan had also been denied bail earlier in two other cases investigated by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
Details of the Fraud Case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that Tanaji Adhikari, a senior tax assistant in the TDS refund section of the Income Tax Department, used the login credentials of his seniors to process Rs 264 crore in fraudulent TDS refunds into accounts of his associates. Co-accused Rajesh Batreja reportedly sent Rs 55.5 crore to Dubai and later returned the funds, declaring them as investments in two companies.
Batreja allegedly paid Rs. 12 crore to Chavan, who promised to use his contacts to assist in the ED case. Between August and November 2023, Chavan and Batreja allegedly handled Rs 11 crore as proceeds of crime. Two police constables attached to the IPS officer, accused of collecting tainted funds for Chavan, were also cited as witnesses.
Judicial Stance on Economic Offences
The court’s decision underscores the strict approach of Indian judiciary toward high-value economic offences, highlighting the balance between health considerations and the gravity of financial crimes impacting national economic integrity.
About Purushottam Chavan Case
Chavan remains in custody as investigations continue, with multiple co-accused and financial trails still being examined by the ED. This case forms part of a wider crackdown on fraudulent TDS refund schemes involving high-value transactions and misuse of official credentials.
Source from: https://indianmasterminds.com/news/mumbai-court-denies-bail-purushottam-chavan-tax-refund-scam-156160/
