A special court recently ruled that the arrests made by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a corruption case involving officials from the Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) were unlawful, leading to the release of seven individuals, including two Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers and assistant development commissioner Rekha Nair. The court found procedural violations, including the failure to provide valid grounds for the arrests.
The case revolves around allegations of bribery within SEEPZ. The CBI had accused Nair of accepting a ₹2 lakh bribe from joint development commissioner Chanderpal Singh Chauhan, who is also implicated in the case. During the investigation, the agency claimed to have recovered ₹47 lakh in unaccounted cash from Nair’s residence and luxury assets, including cars and property documents, from Chauhan’s premises. The alleged corruption involved bribes for allocating spaces, handling duty-free imports, and favoring contractors.
The court noted that the CBI failed to follow proper legal procedures during the arrests. Chauhan’s lawyer argued that the agency did not inform the accused of the reasons for their detention and misrepresented the timing of Chauhan’s arrest. In Nair’s case, the defense pointed out the absence of prior notice or sanction under the Prevention of Corruption Act. These arguments led the court to reject the CBI’s custody requests and declare the arrests a violation of the accused’s rights. This case highlights significant procedural lapses in the investigation of alleged corruption, casting doubt on the legality of the evidence collected by the CBI. The ruling emphasizes the importance of adhering to due process while addressing allegations of financial misconduct.
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