Mon Jun 23 11:41:28 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Supreme Court of India has expressed concern over a growing trend where individuals accused of financial crimes, such as tax evasion, offer to pay substantial sums of money to secure bail, only to later fail to make the promised payments. The court warns against allowing such practices, emphasizing the sanctity of the judicial process and the need to prevent individuals from manipulating the system to gain release. The court was hearing the bail plea of a man accused of ₹13 crore tax evasion who failed to fulfill his promise to pay ₹2.5 crore after being granted bail by the Madras High Court.
**News Article:**
**Supreme Court Slams “Ducks and Drakes” Bail Tactics in Financial Crime Cases**
**NEW DELHI, June 23, 2025** – The Supreme Court of India today voiced strong disapproval of a growing trend where individuals accused of financial crimes, including tax evasion and fraud, strategically offer large sums of money as a means of securing bail, only to renege on those payments later.
A Bench of Justices K.V. Viswanathan and N. Kotiswar Singh highlighted the increasing frequency with which accused persons use this tactic, often arguing that the bail conditions are too strict or blaming their lawyers for unauthorized actions when pressed to fulfill their financial promises.
“We cannot allow parties to play ducks and drakes with the court,” Justice Viswanathan stated, emphasizing the court’s determination to prevent individuals from exploiting the system for personal gain. The court warned against allowing such practices, emphasizing the sanctity of the judicial process and the need to prevent individuals from manipulating the system to gain release.
The remarks came during the hearing of a bail plea from a man accused of tax evasion to the tune of ₹13 crore. The petitioner had previously secured bail from the Madras High Court based on the promise of a ₹2.5 crore payment, which he subsequently failed to make.
While initially ordering the man to surrender, the Bench later recalled the order, citing his family responsibilities. However, the court’s message remained clear: attempting to manipulate the bail process with false promises will not be tolerated.
The Supreme Court stressed the need to balance an individual’s right to freedom with the integrity of the legal system. This ruling sends a strong message to those seeking to exploit the system and reinforces the importance of upholding the sanctity of judicial proceedings.
First Piper 