While hearing a bail case on Tuesday, the Supreme Court observed that there is no such country as Vanuatu, an island nation that lies in the South Pacific.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria was hearing a bail plea filed by a Vanuatu national accused under Section 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery committed for the purpose of cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust), among other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Justice Mehta asked Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, appearing for the accused, where his client was from. The senior counsel said that he was from Vanuatu. The judge replied,

"Have you been there? There is no country like that...This country is like Kailasa."

Kailasa is a self-proclaimed Hindu micronation "founded" in 2019 by fugitive Indian guru Nithyananda.

Dave then replied that the country was "somewhere in the Caribbean".

After the Bench was told that the accused had used multiple identities, Justice Mehta said in lighter vein,

"We must consider research on this fellow."

The bail plea was eventually dismissed as withdrawn.