Supreme Court Reserves Verdict on Parvinder Singh Khurana's Bail Plea

The Supreme Court reserved judgment on Parvinder Singh Khurana's plea against the Delhi High Court's stay on his bail in a money laundering case, emphasizing that such actions should be rare. Human liberty, under Article 21 of the Constitution, was the court's focal point.

The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its verdict on Parvinder Singh Khurana's petition challenging the Delhi High Court's decision to stay his bail in a money laundering case. The bench, consisting of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, noted that a stay-on-bail order should be issued only in the rarest and most exceptional circumstances.

The court emphasized the importance of protecting human liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution, cautioning against practices that curtail freedom. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pointed out instances where individuals had fled the country, rendering any conditions imposed by the court ineffective.

The court acknowledged that exceptions might be made for cases involving terrorism, anti-national activities, or extremely flawed bail orders. Given these considerations, the Supreme Court reserved its decision on Khurana's plea. Khurana's bail granted by the trial court had been stayed by the Delhi High Court since June 23, 2023, a stay extended multiple times. The top court lifted this stay on June 7.

(With inputs from agencies.)