A special PMLA court has found no “prima facie” evidence to support money laundering allegations against Nalini Chidambaram in the Saradha case. The court’s detailed order underscores the insufficiency of evidence for further proceedings.
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KOLKATA: A special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court has determined that there is no “prima facie” case against Nalini Chidambaram concerning allegations of money laundering in the Saradha probe. The court’s order provides a detailed explanation of the decision, underscoring the absence of sufficient evidence to proceed with charges against Chidambaram.
Judge Prashanta Mukhopadhyay delivered the crucial ruling on Tuesday(30TH July), stating unequivocally that no case could be established “for the offence under Section 3 punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA Act, 2002.” This statement underscores the court’s assessment that the evidence presented did not meet the necessary threshold for prosecution. Consequently, the court ruled that the “supplementary complaint dated July 5 stands dismissed.”
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had previously leveled allegations against Nalini Chidambaram, claiming she had received Rs 1.3 crore between June 11, 2010, and June 17, 2012, from companies associated with Saradha group head Sudipta Sen. The ED’s accusations suggested that these transactions were part of a money-laundering scheme orchestrated by the Saradha group.
One of the pivotal points in the ED’s allegations was the claim that –
“Nalini did not issue an invoice or bill upon receiving such payment.”
This assertion was intended to support the argument that the payments were illicit and lacked a legitimate business basis.
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In response to the ED’s summons, Nalini Chidambaram’s legal team consistently maintained her innocence.
Her lawyer argued that-
“There was no agreement established between her and Sen or his companies.”
challenging the very foundation of the ED’s case. This defense was pivotal in persuading the court to dismiss the charges.
The court’s decision to dismiss the case has significant implications for Nalini Chidambaram, effectively clearing her of the serious allegations of money laundering. This ruling also sets a precedent for similar cases, highlighting the importance of concrete evidence in prosecutions under the PMLA.
The Saradha scam, a major financial scandal that emerged in 2013, involved the Saradha Group, a consortium of over 200 private companies that were believed to be running collective investment schemes. The collapse of the group left thousands of investors in financial ruin and led to numerous investigations and arrests.
