Opposition calls Supreme Court’s ‘green signal’ for anti-money laundering law a “dangerous decision”

Nearly 17 opposition parties in the country have termed as “alarming” the Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding the amendments made in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 2019 that made agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) more vulnerable. rights have been obtained. The statement, signed by some other parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party, CPIM, Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal, said, “We are hopeful that this dangerous decision will be short-lived and constitutional provisions will come into force soon.” Significantly, the Supreme Court in its judgment last week had upheld the validity of the comprehensive powers given to the ED under the amended law. , The opposition parties are again preparing to go to the Supreme Court to review the decision.

17 Opposition parties, including TMC & AAP, plus one independent Rajya Sabha MP, have signed a joint statement expressing deep apprehensions on long-term implications of the recent Supreme Court judgement upholding amendments to PMLA,2002 and called for its review. The statement: pic.twitter.com/vmhtxRHAnl

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 3, 2022

The opposition parties have issued a joint statement on the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. All opposition parties including TMC, Congress, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party, TRS, SP, CPI(M), RJD and Shiv Sena have signed this letter regarding PMLA.

The opposition parties said, “We express our deep concern about the far-reaching ramifications of the recent Supreme Court order in which the Supreme Court upheld the amendments made in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in its entirety and did not scrutinize it.” That some of these amendments were made through the Finance Bill. Opposition parties said, “We respect our Supreme Court and will always do so. Yet we are compelled to mention that the decision of the larger Bench considering the legality of the amendments made through the Finance Bill should have been awaited.” Kiya, which is engaged in the politics of vendetta, is using these amendments to mischievously and maliciously target her opponents. The opposition parties said, “We are disappointed that the Supreme Court, which has been probed into law- The lack of judgment and balance should be given an independent decision, it has in fact put forth the arguments put forward by the executive in support of these amendments. The ‘dangerous decision’ will be for a very short time and the constitutional provisions will win.

Significantly, on July 27, the Supreme Court had given its verdict on petitions challenging the process of arrest, seizure and investigation conducted by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and gave a green signal to the ED’s powers in PMLA cases. was given. The Supreme Court had upheld the ED’s right to arrest under the PMLA. The court had said that the process of arrest is not arbitrary. SC had upheld the stringent provisions of PMLA on double conditions of proceeds of offence, search and seizure, power of arrest, attachment of properties and bail.