On Friday, the Delhi High Court released Pinky Irani, a close associate of the alleged fraudster Sukesh Chandrasekhar, on bail in connection with a 200 crore rupees extortion case.

The high court granted relief to the woman after she provided a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and two Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, while outlining the conditions for bail, stated: "The applicant, Ms. Irani, is not permitted to leave India without obtaining prior permission from the relevant court. She must refrain from making any direct or indirect inducements, threats, or promises to individuals familiar with the case. Additionally, she is required to provide her mobile number to the designated police officer at the Special Cell Police Station."

Pinky Irani, who is based in Mumbai, has been in custody since her apprehension on November 30, 2022, by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police.

When granting bail, the high court observed that there was no information on record regarding Irani's criminal history. Additionally, the court considered her age, noting that she is a 52-year-old woman who had been in custody since November of the previous year.

The court expressed that it is essential for the allegations to be examined and tested during the trial to meet the requirements of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Furthermore, it was emphasized that it is a matter for trial to determine whether the money received by the petitioner, Ms. Irani, was intended for gaining an unfair economic advantage, as the defense argues that these funds were transferred for the purpose of distributing gifts to celebrities.

The court noted that it is an established principle that, during the bail stage, it cannot extensively examine the evidence or conduct a mini trial.

The court emphasized that the conclusions made at this stage are provisional and do not impact the case's substance. At this stage, the case needs to be considered from a prima facie perspective.

In its supplementary charge sheet presented to a trial court, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has alleged that Irani played a role in introducing Chandrasekhar to Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez and was involved in facilitating the disposal of the Rs 200 crore that was allegedly extorted by him.

According to the charge sheet, it is alleged that Irani presented Chandrasekhar as a business magnate and played a key role in arranging his meetings with specific Bollywood figures.

The charge sheet mentioned that the police had taken statements from numerous individuals, including Bollywood actors Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi.

Chandrasekhar, who is presently incarcerated, is facing allegations of defrauding numerous individuals, including prominent figures like Aditi Singh, the wife of former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh.

The police have alleged that Chandrasekhar and his associates impersonated government officials and assured Aditi Singh of securing bail for her husband, who was detained in a money laundering case. They purportedly took money from her under this pretext.

According to the allegations, Chandrasekhar convinced Aditi to transfer the money while impersonating a central government official using a spoofed phone call. He purportedly made promises to arrange for her husband's bail while he was incarcerated in Rohini jail.