Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 16 December 2025
A Special Court in Port Blair on Friday rejected the bail applications of Kuldeep Rai Sharma, former Member of Parliament from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and three other accused in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case connected with alleged money laundering arising out of the Andaman and Nicobar State Cooperative Bank loan fraud.
The court recorded that the bail applications filed by K. Murugan, K. Kalaivanan, Sanjay Lall and Kuldeep Rai Sharma were taken up “for passing order,” after the matter had been heard at length. The order notes that the court decided the applications “on perusal of entire record and submission of Ld. Lawyers of all four accused persons,” reflecting that the bail pleas were heard comprehensively over multiple dates.
In the operative part of the order, the Special Judge observed: “Accordingly, I find reasonable ground for belief in this case,” and further held that “it cannot be said that accused persons are not guilty of such offence at this stage as because prima facie I find materials against all these four accused persons.”
The court also recorded its conclusion regarding the conduct of the accused, stating: “I also find that accused Sanjay Lall tried to destroy the evidence in this case, which was detected at the time of inquiry of this case.” The court added that “there was necessity to arrest this accused as because all these accused persons were trying to destroy the evidence somehow the others.”
With respect to the nature of the case, the court noted that “matter is relating to public money and it also relates to national economy and national interest,” and held that, in such circumstances, “it is very difficult to grant bail to these four accused persons.”
On the plea for bail on medical grounds filed by accused K. Murugan, the court held: “I do not find any reason to grant bail to this accused due to medical reason,” while directing that “the Correctional Home Authority is directed to provide proper specialize medical treatment to accused K. Murugan.”
Concluding the order, the Special Judge stated: “Accordingly, at this stage, it will not be proper to grant bail to any of these four accused persons,” and ordered that “the bail prayer of all these four accused persons namely K. Murugan, K. Kalaivanan, Sanjay Lall and Kuldeep Rai Sharma are considered and rejected.” The court further directed that all four accused “are remanded to J/c till 24.12.2025,” and that a copy of the order be communicated to the jail authorities for necessary action.
