The Gauhati High Court granted bail in a money laundering case linked to alleged betting on Indian Premier League matches. In its 2 November order, the court found that the chargesheet and the order taking cognisance in the original betting case did not disclose a scheduled offence against the applicant under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Why the underlying charges mattered
A scheduled offence is one listed in the PMLA’s schedule. The prosecution must be able to connect the alleged proceeds of crime to criminal activity relating to such an offence. Justice Anjan Moni Kalita noted that the surviving charges in the original betting case were under the Assam Game and Betting Act and did not supply that basis.
The Enforcement Directorate also relied on three other FIRs. The court examined the material from those cases and found that it did not establish a prima facie link between the applicant and proceeds of a scheduled offence. It also considered whether statements made in custody could be relied upon at the bail stage.
Gauhati High Court photograph by Pinakpani, cropped, CC BY 4.0.
Read the Gauhati High Court order of 2 November 2026 (2026:GAU-AS:15987, PDF)