This comes a month after the ED’s coercive powers to arrest suspects in cases were upheld by the top court.
Supreme Court hears Karti Chidambaram’s review plea on stringent PMLA provision
Nearly a month after the Supreme Court upheld the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Enforcement Directorate’s powers to arrest the suspects, a petition challenging the key judgment came up for a hearing on Thursday.
The plea filed by Congress MP Karti Chidamabram – who has also been under the scanner of probe agencies – was heard in an open court. The Congress MP – among other opposition leaders – has been alleging misuse of central probe agencies by the BJP.
The powers under the money laundering act for search, seizure, summon, arrest and bail were challenged in the petition.
On Wednesday, a short order passed on the matter said: “The application for oral hearing is allowed. List the matter in the Court on August 25.”
Headed by Chief Justice Ramana, a three-judge bench – while striking down two offensive provisions on prosecution and confiscation under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 – referred to the July 27 judgment. Certain aspects of the judgment required further exposition in an appropriate case as they created scope for arbitrary application, the bench said.
