India, June 15 -- The Bombay high court on Thursday discharged Saeed Khan Shergul Khan, arrested in a money laundering case related to embezzlement of funds of Rs.18.18 crore from an educational institution headed by former Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) MLA Bhavana Gawali. The court said Khan cannot be held responsible for any financial misconduct in the Trust, as at the relevant time, he had neither control over the Trust's finances nor any decision-making authority.

"There is a conspicuous absence of a banking trail, documentary proof, or seizure of cash that could demonstrate a financial link between the applicant (Khan) and the alleged proceeds of crime," said justice RN Laddha. "The prosecution (Enforcement Directorate) has not asserted...