The Chhattisgarh High Court granted bail to former CMO Deputy Secretary Saumya Chaurasia in cases filed by the ED and EOW in the alleged Rs 2,883 crore liquor scam. The Court cited delay in trial, parity with co-accused, and substantial completion of investigation.
A Delhi Court, while discharging Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and others in the excise policy case, criticised the ED for making arrests before the predicate offence is judicially tested. The Court warned that mechanical use of PMLA powers risks violating Article 21 and turning investigation into punishment.
The Delhi High Court has held that ancestral property can be attached under the PMLA if it represents the value of proceeds of crime. The Court clarified that inherited assets do not get automatic immunity in money laundering cases.
The Supreme Court has stayed a Delhi High Court ruling that allowed the ED to treat money from illegal online cricket betting as “proceeds of crime” under the PMLA. The apex court will now examine whether the ED can act when betting offences are not listed as scheduled crimes under the law.
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.
Today, On 6th January, The Supreme Court rejected Advocate Gautam Khaitan’s plea challenging the ED’s property attachment in the AgustaWestland case, stating “This practice has to stop” as it criticised attempts by wealthy accused persons to bypass the normal trial process.
Today, On 6th January, The Supreme Court has granted bail to former Amtek Group chairman Arvind Dham in the Rs.2,700-crore bank fraud case, months after the Delhi High Court denied relief. The trial court will now decide the specific bail conditions.
The ACB/EOW has alleged in its chargesheet that Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, received Rs 200–250 crore from the liquor scam. The agency claims he played a key role in managing and protecting the syndicate during the Congress government’s tenure.
The Delhi High Court ruled that money earned from illegal cricket betting can be attached by the ED if it originates from criminal acts linked to scheduled offences under PMLA. It held that the illegal origin of funds continues to taint all profits, even if betting itself is not a scheduled offence.
A Mumbai court refused to discharge Nawab Malik’s family-run company in a money laundering case tied to Dawood Ibrahim, citing “sufficient material on record” to frame charges. The court said rent collected through the firms constituted “proceeds of crime.”
