New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted anticipatory bail to a woman accused in a cheating case after noting that she was cooperating with the ongoing investigation, according to reports. A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran issued the relief to Nidhi Nehra Sharma in a case registered at the Vasant Kunj North Police Station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including provisions for cheating and forgery.
Sharma has been accused of fraudulently inducing a man to transfer substantial funds under the false pretext of settling a company's liabilities. Investigators alleged that she diverted the money for personal gain and deceived the complainant by presenting an allegedly forged document. The transactions in question total approximately Rs 1.30 crore.
In its order, the bench stated that considering the facts and circumstances of the case alongside the submissions made by the petitioner's counsel, the material presented against the petitioner fell short of the threshold required to refuse anticipatory bail. The court ordered that if Sharma is arrested in connection with the specified offenses, she must be released on bail under terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the investigating officer.
Advocate Ashwani Dubey, representing Sharma, emphasized during the proceedings that his client was fully cooperating with the probe. Consequently, the apex court directed Sharma to appear before the concerned court following her release, furnish fresh bail bonds, and ensure her regular appearance throughout the trial proceedings. The bench noted that the state reserves the right to seek the cancellation of the anticipatory bail if she fails to adhere to these directives, and it further instructed her to surrender her passport to the police.
According to the prosecution, the case arose after Sharma and other co-accused individuals allegedly claimed they could assist in settling liabilities for Bulwark Facilities Management Private Limited amid ongoing company disputes. They reportedly introduced co-accused persons for accounts and IT work, leading to the disputed financial transactions. Furthermore, authorities alleged that an NBCC work order valued at roughly Rs 11 crore, shown to the complainant for security and housekeeping services, was fabricated.
By granting protection from arrest, the Supreme Court concluded that the existing evidence did not justify denying anticipatory bail, while firmly tying the relief to her continued cooperation with the legal process and compliance with all imposed conditions.