{
  "id": 12430114,
  "title": "Mumbai: Special CBI Court Refuses To Release Mehul Choksi Associate Sunil Varma Merely On Bond",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/mumbai-special-cbi-court-refuses-to-release-mehul-choksi-associate",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T16:50:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-special-cbi-court-refuses-to-release-mehul-choksi-associate-sunil-varma-merely-on-bond"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 6, 2026, a special CBI court in Mumbai declined to release Sunil Varma, a close associate of Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali Gems, solely on bond. Notably, Varma has been out on interim bail since his arrest in July 2024. The court maintained that Varma must obtain bail based on merits. Varma first appeared in July 2024, following his decision to surrender and a petition filed with the High Court. The CBI had initially sought his arrest, but their request was rejected. In the meantime, Varma was released on interim bond, and his lawyer had petitioned for his release based solely on bond. However, this plea is currently pending.\n\nDuring the trial, Varma's lawyer argued that he was not present in India in 2017. The complaint was filed on February 15, 2018, and a supplementary chargesheet was filed against Varma on June 10, 2021. Defense counsel contended that there was insufficient service to the applicant and that the special court had issued a non-bailable warrant against him. The warrant was subsequently cancelled by the High Court, with the condition that Varma appear before the special court. He did so.\n\nThe plea was opposed by the special CBI prosecutor, Limosin A, who stated that Varma has not cooperated during the investigation. The court rejected Varma's plea, noting that the supplementary chargesheet was filed against him in his absence, aiming for extradition proceedings because he was unwilling to return to India. Therefore, the court concluded that Varma's cooperation during the investigation cannot be established. The court emphasized that Varma was well aware of the crimes committed and his involvement, fleeing before the crime's registration. The court further stated that Varma's appearance was not voluntary but under compulsion due to the issuance of the non-bailable warrant, hence rejecting his plea.",
  "summary": "Mumbai, October 6, 2026: The special CBI court has refused to release international business head of Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali Gems, Sunil Varma, simply on bond. Varma, though, is out on interim bail since his arrest in July 2024, and will have to obtain bail on merits. Varma, who is said to be a very close associate of another accused, Mehul Choksi, appeared before the special court in July 2024,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}