Karnataka HC refuses to grant bail to former MUDA commissioner Dinesh Kumar in money laundering case

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday declined to grant bail to G.T. Dinesh Kumar (46), former commissioner of Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) in the case registered against him under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2000 in connection with the MUDA scam.

Justice S. Sunil Dutt Yadav passed the order while rejecting the petition filed by Kumar, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on September 16, 2025 and is in judicial custody at present.

However, the High Court has given him liberty to approach it again for bail after three months.

Meanwhile, the court found no illegalities in the procedure followed during his arrest and agreed with the contention of the ED investigation against him is continuing even though first investigation report has been filed against him before the jurisdictional court.

Also, the Court declined to grant him bail even on medical grounds while pointing out that he could be provided treat at prison hospital for the his health problems.

Noticing that the petitioner is under judicial custody from past 127 days, the court, citing apex court judgements on granting bail in PMLA cases for delay in commencement or completion of trial, has said that the period of judicial custody of the petitioner does not require judicial intervention at this stage.