Supreme Court - Daily Orders
Ajay Bhardwaj vs Union Of India on 13 December, 2023
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL ORIGINAL/APPELLATE JURISDICTION
Writ Petition (Criminal) No 231 of 2019
Ajay Bhardwaj … Petitioner
Versus
Union of India & Ors … Respondents
WITH
Writ Petition (Criminal) Nos 33, 132, 159, 196, 207, 221, 222, 238, 259, 240,
241, 254, 296, 330, 357, 353 & 361 of 2019, 115, 116, 205 & 208 of 2020, 530
of 2021, 94, 96 & 107 of 2022 and 547, 557 & 565 of 2023
AND
Miscellaneous Application Nos 2043 and 2082 of 2022 in Writ Petition (Crl) No
304 of 2018 and Miscellaneous Application Diary No 40673 of 2022
ORDER
1 Having heard learned counsel for the petitioners, we are of the considered view that the allegations which have been levelled in the FIRs merit investigation.
2 Among other reliefs, a direction was sought to the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate all the offences alleged against the petitioners in connection with the following FIRs :
“(i) FIR No. 60/2018, dated 29.01.2018, P.S. Prashant Vihar, Rohini, New Delhi under Sections 406, 420 read with 34 of IPC;Signature Not Verified (ii) FIR No. 61/2018, dated 15.05.2018, P.S Special Cell Digitally signed by NEETA SAPRA
(SB) Delhi, under Sections 406, 420 and 120B of Date: 2023.12.16 13:13:13 IST IPC;Reason: 2
(iii) FIR No. 181 of 2018, P.S. Nigdi, Pune, dated 15.03.2018 under section 406, 420, 34 of IPC, Section 66( d) IT Act, 2000, Section 4 and 5 Chit Fund Act 1982, Section 3 Maharashtra Investors (Second) Act, 1999;
(iv) FIR No. 0124 of 2018 P.S. Central Sector 17, Chandigarh dated 24.04.2018 under section 406, 420, 120B IPC;
(v) FIR No. 1167 of 2018 P.S. Cyber Crime, Bengaluru City dated 19.04.2018 under Section 66 (d) IT Act;
(vi) FIR No. 0231 of 2018 P.S. Khadakpada dated 16.06.2018 under Section 406, 420, l 20B, 34 IPC, S.66 ( d) Information Technology Act, 2000; S.4 Chit Fund Act, 1982 Section 3 and 4;
(vii) FIR No. 142 of2018 P.S. Crime Branch, Delhi dated 26.05.2018 under Section 420 and 34 of IPC;
(viii) FIR No. 118 of2018 P.S. Alipore, Kolkata dated 25.04.2018 under section 406, 4q9, 420, 467, 468, 471, 477 A, 120B IPC;
(ix) FIR No.14931013180062 of 2018, Serial No. 62, P.S. Crime Branch Srinagar dated 22.12.2018, u/S 120B, 420 of Ranbir Penal Code SVT 1989; and
(x) FIR No. 74 of 2019, P.S.Civil Lines, Police Commissionerate Amritsar, u/S 420, 406, 120B of IPC tlated 10.04.2019.” 3 The petitioner(s) had sought anticipatory bail during the pendency of the Petitions under Article 32 of the Constitution.
4 On 30 August 2019, a Bench of this Court while directing the issuance of notice, passed the following order :
“Issue notice.
“For the grounds stated in the writ petition, the 3 petitioner is granted anticipatory bail if he deposits a sum of Rs. 1 crore in the Registry of this Court within a period of six months from today, which amount shall be kept in an interest bearing short term fixed deposit of a nationalised Bank.
Needless to say that for this period of six months, no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner.”
5 Similar orders have been passed in the batch of cases granting ad-interim relief subject to deposit of varying amounts. The amounts which have been deposited in the Registry of this Court are set out in the following tabulated chart :
SR. CASE TITLE AND CASE AMOUNT
NO. NUMBER DEPOSITED
1 AJAY BHARDWAJ v UOI 1 CRORE
W.P. (Crl.) No. 231/2019
2 DR. VIVEK KUMAR BHARDWAJ v 1 CRORE
UOI
W.P. (Crl.) No. 33/2019
3 PANKAJ ADLAKHA v UOI 25 LAKHS
Passport in
W.P. (Crl.) No. 132/2019 Supreme
Court
4 ARVIND SEHMAY v UOI 15 LAKHS
W.P. (Crl.) No. 222/2019
5 NAVIN PATHAK v UOI 15 LAKHS
W.P. (Crl.) No. 240/2019
6 VYAS NARHARI SAPA v UOI 25 LAKHS
W.P.(Crl.) No. 254/2019
17 SANJAY DUA v UOI 35 LAKHS
W.P. (Crl.) No. 296/2019
18 AMIT BIR v UOI 15 LAKHS
W.P. (Crl.) No. 115/2020
19 ROY JAGDISHBHAI v UOI 15 LAKHS
W.P. (Crl.) No. 208/2020
10 AMIT BHARDWAJ v UOI 10 CRORE
4
MA 2043/2022 in W.P. (Crl.) No.
304/2018
11 MAHENDRA KUMAR BHARDWAJ v 1 CRORE
UOI
W.P. (Crl.) No. 159/2019
12 HEMANT BHOPE v UNION OF
INDIA DEPARTMENT OF 15 LAKHS
CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND
ORS. Passport in
Supreme
W.P. (Crl.) No. 207/2019 Court
21 SURINDER SINGH ALAGH v UOI 15 LAKHS
W.P.(Crl.) No. 196/2019
14 AASHISH KUMAR DABAS v UOI 15 LAKHS
W.P. (Crl.) No. 221/2019
15 GAUTAM KHANNA v UOI 15 LAKHS
W.P. (Crl.) No. 241/2019
16 TEJINDER PAL SINGH @ T.P.S 15 LAKHS
KALRA v UOI
W.P. (Crl.) No. 238/2019
17 AKASH KANTILAL SANCHETI v 13 LAKHS
UOI
W.P. (Crl.) No. 259/2019
18 BALJEET SAINI v UOI 15 LAKHS
W.P. (Crl.) No. 330/2019
19 PRADEEP KUMAR ARORA 15 LAKHS
@ASHOK KUMAR @ BUNTY v
UOI
W.P. (Crl.) No. 357/2019
20 ASIF MALKANI v UOI 15 LAKHS
W.P. (Crl.) No. 353/2019
21 ASHOK GOYAL @ ASHOK 15 LAKHS
JAIPURIA v UOI
W.P. (Crl.) No. 361/2019
22 BHAVESH KUMAR KARAMSHIBHA 15 LAKHS
I BAGADIYA v UOI
5
W.P. (Crl.) No. 205/2020
6 Bearing in mind the magnitude of the controversy and all the relevant facts and circumstances, we are of the considered view that it would be inappropriate to entertain the Writ Petitions under Article 32 of the Constitution for the grant of anticipatory bail. However, considering that all the FIRs have similar allegations and are directed against Variabletech Pte Ltd, which had allegedly extended false promises on investment in Bitcoins, we are of the considered opinion that all these FIRs should be directed to be investigated by a common agency. We, therefore, deem it appropriate to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate all these FIRs. During investigation, it shall be open to the CBI to club/consolidate any one or more of the FIRs. It is further clarified that in the event that charge sheets have already been filed by the local Police in connection with any of the FIR, this shall not preclude the CBI from conducting further investigation and thereafter file charge sheets or supplementary charge sheets, as the case may be.
7 The amounts deposited before this Court pursuant to the interim orders shall stand transferred to the CBI Court, Rouse Avenue, New Delhi along with the interest, if any, accrued thereon.
8 Any accused apprehending arrest in connection with the FIRs would be at liberty to approach the CBI Court for the grand of appropriate reliefs.
9 In view of the above directions, the interim orders which were passed by this 6 Court shall stand vacated, save and except for the direction for the transfer of the funds deposited in the Registry of this Court to the CBI Court, Rouse Avenue, New Delhi.
10 Wherever, passports have been deposited in the Registry of this Court, they shall be transferred to the CBI Court, Rouse Avenue, New Delhi.
11 The Writ Petitions and the Miscellaneous Applications are, accordingly, disposed of.
12 Pending applications, if any, stand disposed of.
…...…...….......………………....…CJI. [Dr Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud] …...…...….......………………....…..J. [J B Pardiwala] …...…...….......………………....…..J. [Manoj Misra] New Delhi;
December 13, 2023
GKA
7
ITEM NO.10 COURT NO.1 SECTION X
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Writ Petition(s)(Criminal) No(s). 231/2019
AJAY BHARDWAJ Petitioner(s)
VERSUS
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. Respondent(s)
([ THREE-JUDGE BENCH MATTER ]
(IA No. 68575/2022 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION IA No. 127278/2019
- APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS IA No. 197643/2022 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS IA No. 105264/2022 - CANCELLATION OF BAIL IA No.45387/2022 - CANCELLATION OF BAIL IA No. 82439/2020 - CANCELLATION OF BAIL IA No. 90520/2021 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING AFFIDAVIT IA No. 127279/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No.197646/2022 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 197640/2022 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 60640/2022 - INTERVENTION APPLICATION IA No. 232846/2023 – INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT IA No.197638/2022 – INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT IA No. 187812/2022 – INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT IA No. 70231/2022 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES IA No. 44710/2022 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES) WITH W.P.(Crl.) No. 547/2023 (X) (FOR ADMISSION and IA No.227578/2023-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.) W.P.(Crl.) No. 565/2023 (X) (FOR ADMISSION and IA No.230803/2023-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.) W.P.(Crl.) No. 557/2023 (X) (FOR ADMISSION and IA No.229188/2023-STAY APPLICATION and IA No.229185/2023-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.) W.P.(Crl.) No. 33/2019 (X) (IA No. 49410/2022 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION IA No. 67085/2020 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING AFFIDAVIT IA No. 146324/2022 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 67081/2020 – MODIFICATION IA No. 146322/2022 - STAY APPLICATION) 8 W.P.(Crl.) No. 132/2019 (X) (IA No. 16846/2022 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS IA No.95147/2019
- DOCUMENT TAKEN ON RECORD IA No. 74236/2019 - EX-PARTE STAY IA No. 16848/2022 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING AFFIDAVIT IA No. 85395/2020 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING AFFIDAVIT IA No. 58546/2020 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING AFFIDAVIT IA No. 85391/2020 - MODIFICATION OF COURT ORDER IA No. 85790/2019 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ ANNEXURES) W.P.(Crl.) No. 222/2019 (X) (IA No. 28509/2022 - DISCHARGE OF ADVOCATE ON RECORD) W.P.(Crl.) No. 240/2019 (X) (IA No. 132377/2019 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS) W.P.(Crl.) No. 254/2019 (X) (FOR APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS ON IA 24153/2021 FOR EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. ON IA 24156/2021 FOR APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS ON IA 159590/2021 FOR EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. ON IA 159592/2021 FOR APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS ON IA 121637/2023 FOR EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. ON IA 121638/2023 IA No. 24153/2021 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS IA No. 121637/2023 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/ DIRECTIONS IA No. 159590/2021 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS IA No. 24156/2021 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 121638/2023 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 159592/2021 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.) W.P.(Crl.) No. 296/2019 (X) (164488/2019- APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS, 76187/2020-APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION, 76191/2020-EXEMPTION FROM FILING AFFIDAVIT) (FDR matter) IA No. 76187/2020 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION IA No.164488/2019 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS IA No. 76191/2020 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING AFFIDAVIT) W.P.(Crl.) No. 116/2020 (X) (FOR STAY APPLICATION ON IA 46986/2020 FOR EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. ON IA 46987/2020 IA No. 46987/2020 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 46986/2020 - STAY APPLICATION) W.P.(Crl.) No. 115/2020 (X) (I.A 46809/2020-APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONSI. I.A. 144833/2022- APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION(F.D.R matter) IA No. 144833/2022 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION IA No. 46809/2020 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS) W.P.(Crl.) No. 208/2020 (X) 9 (IA No. 71039/2020 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS IA No.80104/2021
- PERMISSION TO REPLACE THE PAGE) W.P.(Crl.) No. 530/2021 (X) (IA No. 165876/2021 - GRANT OF BAIL) W.P.(Crl.) No. 107/2022 (X) (FOR APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS ON IA 38103/2022 FOR ADDITION / DELETION / MODIFICATION PARTIES ON IA 85256/2022 IA No. 85256/2022
- ADDITION / DELETION / MODIFICATION PARTIES IA No. 38103/2022 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS) W.P.(Crl.) No. 96/2022 (X) (IA No. 85251/2022 - ADDITION / DELETION / MODIFICATION PARTIES IA No. 59663/2022 - CONDONATION OF DELAY IN FILING IA No. 36004/2022 - PERMISSION TO FILE APPLICATION FOR DIRECTION) W.P.(Crl.) No. 94/2022 (X) (FOR APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS ON IA 35465/2022 FOR ADDITION/DELETION / MODIFICATION PARTIES ON IA 85247/2022 IA No. 85247/2022 - ADDITION / DELETION / MODIFICATION PARTIES IA No. 35465/2022 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS) MA 2043/2022 in W.P.(Crl.) No. 304/2018 (X) (FOR impleading party ON IA 171549/2022 FOR INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT ON IA 171549/2022 FOR APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION ON IA 171924/2022 IA No. 171924/2022 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION IA No. 171549/2022 - INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT) MA 2082/2022 in W.P.(Crl.) No. 304/2018 (X) (FOR APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION ON IA 185997/2022 FOR impleading party ON IA 185999/2022 FOR INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT ON IA 185999/2022 IA No. 185997/2022 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION IA No. 185999/2022 - INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT) Diary No(s). 40673/2022 (X) W.P.(Crl.) No. 159/2019 (X) (IA No. 49354/2022 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION IA No. 85910/2019 – CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION IA No. 146329/2022 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 146327/2022 - STAY APPLICATION) W.P.(Crl.) No. 207/2019 (X) (FOR EX-PARTE STAY ON IA 112634/2019 10 IA No. 112634/2019 - EX-PARTE STAY) W.P.(Crl.) No. 196/2019 (X) ( FOR EX-PARTE STAY ON IA 107830/2019) W.P.(Crl.) No. 221/2019 (X) (FOR DISCHARGE OF ADVOCATE ON RECORD ON IA 14360/2022) W.P.(Crl.) No. 241/2019 (X) (FOR APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS ON IA 132389/2019 IA No.132389/2019 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS) W.P.(Crl.) No. 238/2019 (X) (I.A No. 132194/2019 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS) W.P.(Crl.) No. 259/2019 (X) (FOR STAY APPLICATION ON IA 141211/2019) W.P.(Crl.) No. 330/2019 (X) (FOR EX-PARTE STAY ON IA 177218/2019 FOR EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. ON IA 177219/2019 FOR EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE ON IA 48607/2020 FOR EXTENSION OF TIME ON IA 64119/2020 IA No. 177218/2019 - EX-PARTE STAY IA No. 177219/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 48607/2020 - EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE IA No. 64119/2020 - EXTENSION OF TIME) W.P.(Crl.) No. 357/2019 (X) (FOR EX-PARTE STAY ON IA 191565/2019 FOR EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. ON IA 191574/2019 FOR EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE ON IA 60438/2020 FOR APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION ON IA 60556/2020 IA No. 60556/2020 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION IA No. 191565/2019 - EX- PARTE STAY IA No. 191574/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 60438/2020 - EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE) W.P.(Crl.) No. 353/2019 (X) (FOR EX-PARTE STAY ON IA 191192/2019 FOR EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. ON IA 191193/2019 FOR EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE ON IA 60434/2020 FOR PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ ANNEXURES ON IA 80475/2020 IA No. 191192/2019 - EX-PARTE STAY IA No. 191193/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 60434/2020 - EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE IA No. 80475/2020 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES) W.P.(Crl.) No. 361/2019 (X) (FOR EX-PARTE BAIL ON IA 193299/2019 FOR EX-PARTE STAY ON IA 193300/2019 FOR EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. ON IA 193303/2019 FOR EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE ON IA 60386/2020 FOR APPLICATION 11 FOR PERMISSION ON IA 60553/2020 FOR APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS ON IA 90014/2020 IA No. 60553/2020 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION IA No.90014/2020 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS IA No. 193299/2019
- EX-PARTE BAIL IA No. 193300/2019 - EX-PARTE STAY IA No.193303/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 60386/2020 - EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE) W.P.(Crl.) No. 205/2020 (X) (FOR CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION ON IA 69886/2020 FOR PERMISSION TO REPLACE THE PAGE ON IA 80117/2021 IA No. 69886/2020 – CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION IA No. 80117/2021 - PERMISSION TO REPLACE THE PAGE) Date : 13-12-2023 These matters were called on for hearing today.
CORAM : HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE J.B. PARDIWALA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ MISRA For Petitioner(s) Mr. Krishnan Venugopal, Sr. Adv.
Mr. Deepak Prakash, AOR Mr. Pawan Kr. Dabas, Adv.
Mr. Kamal Singh Bisht, Adv.
Mr. Raneev Dahiya, Adv.
Mr. Nachiketa Vajpayee, Adv.
Ms. Divyangna Malik, Adv.
Ms. Merlyn J. Rachel, Adv.
Ms. Vishnu Priya, Adv.
Mr. Shyam Nair, Adv.
Mr. Rahul Lakhera, Adv.
Mr. Vardaan Kapoor, Adv.
Mr. Rahul Suresh, Adv.
Mr. Nagarkatti Kartik Uday, AOR Mr. Ankit Verma, Adv.
Mr. Arvind Mishra, Adv.
Mr. S S Bandyopadhyay, Adv.
Mrs. Archana Kumari, Adv.
Mr. Ved Prakash Verma, Adv.
Mr. Ram Kishan, Adv.
Ms. Niti Singh, Adv.
Mr. Abhaya Nath Das, Adv.
Mrs. Barnali Basak, Adv.
Mr. V K Shukla, Adv.
12Ms. Riya Soni, Adv.
Mr. Satish Kumar, AOR Mr. siddhartha Dave, Sr. Adv.
Mr. Jayant Mohan, AOR Ms. Adya Shri Dutt, Adv.
Mr. Dawneesh Shaktivats, Adv.
Mr. Sriram Praakkal, Adv.
Mr. M.S. Vishnu Sankar, Adv.
Mr. Keshy John, Adv.
Mr. Subash Chaudhary, Adv.
Ms. Athira G. Nair, Adv.
Mr. Aditya Santosh, Adv.
M/S. Lawfic, AOR Mr. Chayan Sarkar, Adv.
Ms. Anzu. K. Varkey, AOR Mr. Karan Bindra, Adv.
Mr. Karanbindra, Adv.
Mr. Shailendra Kumar, Adv.
Mr. Sumeer Sodhi, AOR Mr. Pratik Rajopadhye, Adv.
Mr. Yash Gupta, Adv.
Mr. Swastik Singh, Adv.
Mr. Atul Singh, Adv.
Mr. Mohit D. Ram, AOR Mr. Anubhav Sharma, Adv.
By Courts Motion, AOR Dr. Sushil Balwada, AOR For Respondent(s) Mr. Raj Bahadur Yadav, AOR Mr. Amrish Kumar, AOR Mr. Shubhranshu Padhi, AOR Mr. Niroop Sukrithy, Adv.
Mr. Jay Nirupam, Adv.
Mr. D.girish Kumar, Adv.
Mr. Chirag M. Shroff, AOR Mr. Amandeep Mehta, Adv.
Mrs. Mahima C Shroff, Adv.
13Mr. Nachiketa Joshi, A.A.G. Mr. Yashraj Singh Bundela, AOR Mr. Pawan, Adv.
Ms. Jyoti Verma, Adv.
Mr. Gopal Jha, AOR Mr. Sachin Patil, AOR Mr. Nishant Ramakantrao Katneshwarkar, AOR Mr. Siddharth Dharmadhikari, Adv. Mr. Aaditya Aniruddha Pande, AOR Mr. Bharat Bagla, Adv.
Mr. Sourav Singh, Adv.
Mr. Aditya Krishna, Adv.
Mr. Raavi Sharma, Adv.
Ms. Raavi Sharma, Adv.
Mr. Yamini Singh, Adv.
Mr. Neeraj, A.A.G. Mr. Piyush Beriwal, Adv.
Mr. Ankit Raj, Adv.
Ms. Damini Garg, Adv.
Ms. Anandita Aggarwal, Adv.
Mr. Vedansh Anand, Adv.
Dr. Monika Gusain, AOR Dr. Joseph Aristotle S., AOR Ms. Manju Jetley, AOR Ms. Madhumita Bhattacharjee, AOR Ms. Urmila Kar Purkayastha, Adv.
Ms. Srija Choudhury, Adv.
Mr. Arvind Kumar Sharma, AOR Ms. Astha Sharma, AOR Mr. Himanshu Chakravarty, Adv.
M/S. Plr Chambers And Co., AOR M/S. Gorkela Law Office, AOR Mr. Mohit Mathur, Sr. Adv.
Mr. Kohit Mathur, Sr. Adv.
Mr. Karan Sharma, AOR 14 Mr. Harsh Gautam, Adv.
Mr. Siddharth Mittal, AOR Mr. Shreekant Neelappa Terdal, AOR Mr. B. Krishna Prasad, AOR Mr. D. L. Chidananda, AOR Mr. Viresh B. Saharya, AOR Mr. S.V. Raju, A.S.G. Mrs. Aishwariya Bahti, A.S.G. Mr. K.M. Nataraj, A.S.G. Mr. Mukesh Kumar Maroria, AOR Mr. Kanu Agarwal, Adv.
Mrs. Swarupma Chaturvedi, Adv.
Mr. Swarupama Chaturvedi, Adv.
Mr. Zoheb Hussain, Adv.
Mr. Apoorba Kurup, Adv.
Mrs. Ruchi Kohli, Adv.
Ms. Shradha Deshmukh, Adv.
Mr. Bhuvan Mishra, Adv.
Mrs. Rukmini Bobde, Adv.
Mr. Gautam Bhardwaj, Adv.
Mr. Guntur Pramod Kumar, Adv.
Mr. Raman Yadav, Adv.
Mr. Akshey Amritanshu, Adv.
Mr. B.K. Satija, Adv.
Mr. Manish, Adv.
Mrs. Sarica Raju, Adv.
Mr. Tadimall Bhaskar Ghowtham, Adv. Mr. Rajesh Kumar Singh, Adv.
Mrs. Shardha Deshmukh, Adv.
Mr. Vatsal Joshi, Adv.
Mrs. Nisha Bagchi, Adv.
Mr. Krishna Kant Dubey, Adv.
Ms. Aakanksha Kaul, Adv.
Mr. Shyam Gopal, Adv.
Mr. Varun Chugh, Adv.
Ms. Monica Benjamin, Adv.
Mr. Bhuvan Kapoor, Adv.
Mr. B.k. Satija, Adv.
Mr. Diyansh H. Rathi, Adv.
Mr. Akshit Pradhan, Adv.
15Mr. Shailesh Madiyal, Adv.
Mr. Annam Venkatesh, Adv.
Ms. Manisha Chava, Adv.
Ms. Pallavi Pratap, AOR Mr. Nischal Kumar Neeraj, AOR Mr. Ajay Pal, AOR Ms. Kamakshi S. Mehlwal, AOR Mr. Lohit Kumar Bimal, Adv.
Ms. Pallavi Parmar, Adv.
Mr. Rinku Mathur, Adv.
Ms. Gauri Goburdhan, Adv.
Mr. Anand Prakash Yadav, Adv.
Mr. P.S. Sudheer, AOR Mr. Rishi Maheshwari, Adv.
Ms. Anne Mathew, Adv.
Mr. Bharat Sood, Adv.
Ms. Miranda Solaman, Adv.
Mr. Kedar Nath Tripathy, AOR Mr. B. Krishna Prasad, AOR Mr. Devashish Bharuka, AOR Ms. Sarvshree, Adv.
Ms. Swati Mishra, Adv.
Ms. Pallavi Pratap, AOR UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R 1 The Writ Petitions and the Miscellaneous Applications are disposed of in terms of the signed order operative part of which reads as under :
“6 Bearing in mind the magnitude of the controversy and all the relevant facts and circumstances, we are of the considered view that it would be inappropriate to entertain the Writ Petitions under Article 32 of the Constitution for the grant of anticipatory bail. However, considering that all the FIRs have similar allegations and are directed 16 against Variabletech Pte Ltd, which had allegedly extended false promises on investment in Bitcoins, we are of the considered opinion that all these FIRs should be directed to be investigated by a common agency. We, therefore, deem it appropriate to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate all these FIRs. During investigation, it shall be open to the CBI to club/consolidate any one or more of the FIRs. It is further clarified that in the event that charge sheets have already been filed by the local Police in connection with any of the FIR, this shall not preclude the CBI from conducting further investigation and thereafter file charge sheets or supplementary charge sheets, as the case may be.
7 The amounts deposited before this Court pursuant to the interim orders shall stand transferred to the CBI Court, Rouse Avenue, New Delhi along with the interest, if any, accrued thereon.
8 Any accused apprehending arrest in connection with the FIRs would be at liberty to approach the CBI Court for the grand of appropriate reliefs.
9 In view of the above direction16s, the interim orders which were passed by this Court shall stand vacated, save and except for the direction for the transfer of the funds deposited in the Registry of this Court to the CBI Court, Rouse Avenue, New Delhi.
10 Wherever, passports have been deposited in the Registry of this Court, they shall be transferred to the CBI Court, Rouse Avenue, New Delhi.
11 The Writ Petitions and the Miscellaneous Applications are, accordingly, disposed of.”
2 Pending applications, if any, stand disposed of.
(GULSHAN KUMAR ARORA) (SAROJ KUMARI GAUR)
AR-CUM-PS ASSISTANT REGISTRAR
(Signed order is placed on the file)