The Supreme Court will examine whether acquittal in a predicate criminal case automatically ends money-laundering proceedings by the Enforcement Directorate. The court questioned earlier rulings and warned that such a view could defeat the very purpose of the PMLA.
The Supreme Court set aside a Patna High Court order that quashed a cheque dishonour complaint, holding that the High Court wrongly conducted a “roving enquiry” at the pre-trial stage. The apex court restored the complaint, saying a prima facie case under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act was made out.
The Supreme Court strongly criticised the Centre and several States for not complying with its 2020 order mandating CCTV installation in all police stations, calling custodial deaths a serious “blot on the system”. The Court has granted three weeks for compliance, failing which senior officials will have to personally explain the delay.
