Petitioners challenging PMLA provision: Observes SC Hearing Writ Pleas in CG Liquor Scam

NEW DELHI: The SC hearing the pleas in connection to the money laundering case relating to the Chhattisgarh liquor scam observed that a trend of filing petitions going on these days before the top court challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) bypassing other forums which are open to petitioners.

The bench of justices Bela M Trivedi and Prashant Kumar Mishra despite the Vijay Madanlal judgment passed by the Supreme Court last year, there is a trend prevailing in writ petitions filed before this court under Article 32 challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of PMLA which has been decided. It granted liberty to petitioners to seek remedies available as per law in other appropriate forums.

According to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the process of challenging provisions of laws is an abused process of law. He urged the top court that the top court should make some observations otherwise it will keep going.

Chattisgarh’s Excise official Niranjan Das and various others including Karishma Dhebar, Anwar Dhebar and Pinki Singh approached Supreme Court. They challenged certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and sought quashing of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in liquor irregularities matter in Chhattisgarh.

Various petitions challenging money laundering cases relating to the Chhattisgarh liquor scam and certain provisions of the PMLA were withdrawn from Supreme Court on Tuesday.