Pradeep Goyal Vs State of U.P. (Allahabad High Court)
The Allahabad High Court allowed the bail applications filed by Pradeep Goyal and Anchit Goyal in three criminal cases registered under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. The cases arose from allegations of fraudulent GST registrations obtained using PAN details and identities of individuals without their knowledge or consent. The FIRs were lodged by different informants who alleged that fake firms and GST registrations had been created using their PAN cards and personal details. Investigation in all three cases was being conducted jointly.
The applicants contended that they were not named in the FIRs and that their implication was based solely on the statements of co-accused persons. According to the applicants, no incriminating material was recovered from their residence during a police raid. They further submitted that they were businesspersons who frequently travelled between India and the UAE and could not be treated as absconders. Reliance was also placed on an order of the Supreme Court granting bail to similarly placed co-accused persons in related proceedings. The applicants argued that charge sheets had already been filed and that continued incarceration was unwarranted.
The State opposed the bail pleas, contending that investigation had revealed the existence of a large syndicate allegedly involved in creating approximately 2,600 fraudulent firms and claiming Input Tax Credit running into thousands of crores of rupees. It was argued that statements of arrested persons implicated the applicants and that such statements had been corroborated during investigation. The State further submitted that the applicants had criminal antecedents and played a significant role in the alleged operation.
