Mumbai Court's Ruling on SEEPZ Corruption Case: A Setback for CBI

Mumbai, Maharashtra:  A special court in Mumbai has released six individuals, including two senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers, hours after their arrest in a corruption case linked to the Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ). The release came after defense lawyers argued the arrests were illegal and the accused had been unlawfully detained.

On December 17, 2024, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested six individuals connected to SEEPZ, including senior officers accused of corruption, bribes, favoritism towards contractors, and manipulations within the SEEPZ operations. The defense claimed their detention was unlawful, as they were held from 10 am until being presented in court the following evening.

After hearing the arguments, the special CBI judge rejected the request for custodial interrogation and granted their release on personal recognizance bonds of Rs. 15,000 each.

This decision highlights the legal safeguards against unlawful detention under Article 22 of the Indian Constitution and emphasizes the need for law enforcement to follow proper legal procedures during arrests.