(1) ¹[Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), no person accused of an offence ²[under this Act] shall be released on bail or on his own bond unless—]

(i) the Public Prosecutor has been given a opportunity to oppose the application for such release; and

(ii) where the Public Prosecutor opposes the application, the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that he is not guilty of such offence and that he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail:

Provided that a person, who, is under the age of sixteen years, or is a woman or is sick or infirm, ³[or is accused either on his own or along with other co-accused of money-laundering a sum of less than one crore rupees] may be released on bail, if the Special Court so directs:

Provided further that the Special Court shall not take cognizance of any offence punishable under section 4 except upon a complaint in writing made by—

(i) the Director; or

(ii) any officer of the Central Government or a State Government authorised in writing in this behalf by the Central Government by a general or special order made in this behalf by that Government.

⁴[(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), or any other provision of this Act, no police officer shall investigate into an offence under this Act unless specifically authorised, by the Central Government by a general or special order, and, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.]

(2) The limitation on granting of bail specified in ⁵*** sub-section (1) is in addition to the limitations under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) or any other law for the time being in force on granting of bail.

⁶[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is clarified that the expression "Offences to be cognizable and non-bailable " shall mean and shall be deemed to have always meant that all offences under this Act shall be cognizable offences and non-bailable offences notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), and accordingly the officers authorised under this Act are empowered to arrest an accused without warrant, subject to the fulfillment of conditions under section 19 and subject to the conditions enshrined under this section.]

1 Subs. by Act 20 of 2005, s. 7, for certain words, figures, brackets and letters (w.e.f. 1-7-2005).
2. Subs. by Act 13 of 2018, s. 208, for punishable for a term of imprisonment of more than three years under Part A of the Schedule (w.e.f. 19-4-2018).
3. Ins. by s. 208 ibid, (w.e.f. 19-4-2018).
4. Ins. by Act 20 of 2005, s. 7 (w.e.f. 1-7-2005).
5. The words, brackets and letter clause (b) of omitted by s. 7, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-7-2005).

6. The Explanation ins. by Act 23 of 2019, s. 200 (w.e.f. 1-8-2019).