Failure To Apprehend Accused For 13 Yrs Speaks Volumes About CBI: Delhi High Court While Granting Bail In ₹2 Crore Fraud Case
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to a woman accused in a ₹2 crore fraud case, while criticising the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its failure to apprehend her for nearly 13 years.
Justice Girish Kathpalia remarked,
“The fact that it took 13 years for a premier central investigating agency to even apprehend a Proclaimed Offender speaks volumes about their interest or lack thereof in arresting the accused/applicant.”
The case relates to alleged irregularities in the disbursal of a government grant of around ₹2 crore.
Petitioner absconded and was arrested in 2025, long after filing of the charge sheet. Meanwhile, all co-accused had already been released on bail and 76 out of 109 prosecution witnesses had been examined.
CBI opposed the bail plea primarily on the ground that Petitioner had remained absconding for several years and posed a flight risk.
However, the Court found this argument unconvincing, noting that Petitioner's husband is employed with CRPF as Inspector and it is not reasonable to apprehend that she would flee.
The Court also observed that CBI seemed uninterested in pursuing the case, inasmuch as the Investigating Officer opted not to appear before it to assist about the latest status of the case.
“Considering the above circumstances, I do not find any reason to deprive further liberty to the accused/applicant,” the Court said and granted bail subject to furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.50,000/-.
Appearance: Mr. Rituraj Biswas, Mr. Murari Kumar Singh and Mr. Aayush Garg, Advocates for Petitioner; Mr. Vikrant Pachnanda, SPP with Mr. Mukul Katyal, Advocate for Respondent
Case title: R. Usha @ G. Usha v. CBI
Case no.: BAIL APPLN. 5062/2025