Delhi Court grants anticipatory bail to PCI Chief Montu Patel in CBI case, citing no evidence of the alleged Rs 5,000 crore bribe after over two years of investigation.
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NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi, on July 23, 2025, granted anticipatory bail to Dr. Montu Kumar Patel, President of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), in a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleging corruption, bribery, and irregularities in the approval process for pharmacy colleges. The court held that the allegations against Dr. Patel were not supported by any cogent material, despite over two years of investigation.
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Background of the Case
Dr. Montu Patel, elected president of the statutory Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2022, was accused by the CBI of being involved in a web of manipulation and corruption, including the alleged acceptance of bribes and grant of illegal approvals to various pharmacy colleges. The FIR suggested systemic exploitation of the regulatory framework, including charges of pre-election inducement and post-election favoritism.
The agency even claimed a possible bribe amount running into Rs 5,000 crores, and more recently mentioned Rs 118 crores worth of questionable property holdings.
Court’s Observation
Special Judge Sushant Changotra firmly rejected the premise of custodial interrogation, observing that:
“The court will fail in its duty if the personal liberty of the accused is not protected, especially when allegations are prima facie not supported by any cogent material.”
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The Court emphasized that:
- The CBI failed to show any direct material linking Dr. Patel to the alleged transactions.
- Even during interrogation, Patel was not confronted with the Rs 5,000 crore or Rs 118 crore claims.
- The figures cited were derived from media reports and “secret information”, not admissible or substantiated evidence.
- Patel had joined the investigation multiple times and cooperated with authorities.
- No recoveries or custodial evidence were pending.
- Compliance with Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act (requiring sanction from the Central Government) was found lacking and improperly handled by the CBI.
The Court, while granting anticipatory bail, relied on legal precedents to emphasize that the seriousness of allegations alone cannot justify the denial of bail in the absence of prima facie evidence. It reiterated that bail cannot be refused merely as a form of punishment, especially when the investigative agency fails to produce credible material connecting the accused to the alleged offence.
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Referring to landmark rulings in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar and Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre v. State of Maharashtra, the Court stressed that personal liberty is a fundamental right, and arrest or custodial interrogation must be justified through concrete necessity, not assumptions or media reports.
Dr. Patel was granted anticipatory bail on furnishing a bond of Rs 1 lakh along with a surety of the same amount. The court imposed certain conditions, including that he must fully cooperate with the investigation, not leave the country without prior permission, and refrain from tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses in any manner.
Case Title: CBI v. Dr. Montu Kumar Patel
Bail Application No. 210/2025
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