New Delhi: A recent Supreme Court order allowing fugitive businessmen Sandesara brothers to wipe their criminal slate clean by repaying part of the money they allegedly owe banks has sparked a debate—can high-profile economic offenders similarly “buy” their way out of trouble?

Even though the court clarified that its Sandesara brothers ruling cannot be treated as a precedent, the handling of this USD 1.6-billion bank fraud case is being closely analysed in legal and financial circles, especially when dozens of fugitives are similarly wanted over major loan defaults and criminal cheating cases.

T he Supreme Court on 19 November agreed to drop all civil and criminal proceedings against the Sandesara brothers, the promoters of Sterling Biotech Ltd, and their chartered accountant if

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