RCom Money Laundering Case: Delhi HC Grants Bail to Former Director Punit Narendra Garg
Delhi High Court grants bail to former Rcom Director Punit Narendra Garg in a massive Rs 40,000 crore money laundering case.
In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court has granted bail to Punit Narendra Garg, a former Director of Reliance Communications (RCom), who was embroiled in a massive money laundering investigation involving an alleged fraud of Rs 40,000 crore. Justice Sanjeev Narula presided over the matter, allowing the plea subject to specific conditions.
The Terms of Release
The court has mandated that Garg furnish a bail bond of Rs 5 lakh, along with two sureties of the same amount, to secure his release. While the bail has been granted, the court indicated that the detailed written order will be uploaded later in the day. Senior Advocate Pavan Narang represented Punit Narendra Garg during the proceedings.
A Long Legal Battle
The path to this bail was fraught with setbacks for the 61-year-old former executive. Garg had previously approached the trial court, but his bail application was dismissed on June 15. Following that rejection, he moved the High Court in July to challenge the decision.
Earlier in April, Garg had also sought interim bail on medical grounds to undergo specific tests and treatment at a private hospital. He had previously received care at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai and argued that he required intensive examination and a capsule endoscopy.
However, Special Judge Ajay Gupta had rejected that interim plea on April 20, citing a report from a medical board at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The trial court had observed that the tests were not immediately necessary and stated that if required, the accused could be taken to a government hospital as per jail referral policies.
Severe Health Concerns
The defense highlighted Garg's deteriorating health as a critical factor. It was stated that the senior citizen suffers from several serious and incurable conditions, including:
- Crohn's Colitis: An inflammatory bowel disease described as life-threatening and irreversible, which can lead to blood clots and colon cancer.
- Bone Degeneration: Irreversible osteoporosis in the lumbar spine, as well as osteopenia in the left forearm and femoral neck.
- Other Ailments: Hypertension (since 2018), arthritis, an enlarged prostate causing obstructive voiding, and adjustment disorder.
The plea argued that the medical facilities available within the jail were inadequate to manage these complex, multi-specialty health requirements.
The Rs 40,000 Crore Allegation
Punit Narendra Garg was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on January 29, 2026, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The arrest followed an investigation initiated by a CBI FIR dated August 21, 2025, which alleged offences under Sections 120-B, 406, and 420 of the law.
The ED's investigation centers on a staggering bank fraud and money laundering scheme involving RCom and its group entities, totaling over Rs 40,000 crore. Following his arrest, the ED had initially sought a nine-day remand to trace the "Proceeds of Crime," identify other beneficiaries, and map out the entire money-laundering trail before Garg was sent to judicial custody.
The Rouse Avenue court had officially taken cognisance of the ED's charge sheet against Garg and other accused individuals on June 15, shortly before the trial court had dismissed his initial bail plea.