Why Delhi Court Dismissed ED's Complaint Against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi In National Herald Case

A Delhi Court has refused to take cognizance of Enforcement Directorate's money laundering complaint in the National Herald case allegedly involving Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Courts passed the order dismissing the prosecution complaint, which is equivalent to a chargesheet. Here are reasons why the Court did so. Money Laundering Chargesheet Not Maintainable In Absence Of FIRThe Court said that the investigation and...

“Inadvertent Error” In Freezing Karti Chidambaram's Wife's Accounts While Probing Him: SFIO Tells NCLT Chennai

The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has conceded before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) at Chennai that an “inadvertent error” on its part led to the freezing of the bank accounts of Dr Srinidhi Karti Chidambaram, wife of former MP Karti P Chidambaram. The attachment arose from SFIO's November 4 ex-parte order in its disgorgement proceedings linked to Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd. (ASCPL), a company alleged to be controlled by Karti and examined in the Aircel...

Karnataka High Court Issues Notice To ED On WinZO's Plea Challenging Search, Seizure In PMLA Probe

The Karnataka High Court on Monday issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a petition filed by an online gaming company, Winzo Pvt Ltd, seeking to declare that the search and seizure carried out by the ED at its office between 18.11.2025 and 22.11.2025 in furtherance of an investigation in a money laundering case is illegal and void.Justice Suraj Govindaraj issued notice and directed the ED to file its response to the petition and posted the matter for further hearing on December...

NCLT Asks SFIO To Clarify Whether It Verified Karti Chidambaram's PAN Before Freezing His Wife's Accounts

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) at Chennai on Wednesday asked the Serious Fraud Investigation Office to clarify whether it independently verified fomer MP Karti Chidambaram's PAN before seeking freezing of the bank accounts of his wife, Dr. Srinidhi Karti Chidambaram, and directed the agency to file a response by December 9 The bench of Judicial Member Sanjiv Jain and Technical Member Venkataraman Subramaniam noted that SFIO had admitted in tribunal that there were no proceedings...

Sandesara Settlement and Constitutional Perimeter Of Closure Of Criminal Cases

The Supreme Court's order dated 19 November 2025 in Hemant S. Hathi v. Central Bureau of Investigation [2025 Livelaw (SC) 1139] represents an extraordinary culmination of multiple criminal, regulatory and attachment proceedings arising from the affairs of the Sterling group. Acting on what it repeatedly describes as the “peculiar facts” of the case, the Court directed that all such proceedings be quashed upon deposit of a consolidated sum of ₹5100 crore.This belongs to a small category of cases...

Supreme Court Restores Property Of Corporate Debtor Attached Under PMLA To Successful Resolution Applicant

The Supreme Court recently reiterated that the objective of Section 8(8) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act(PMLA) is to ultimately restore any attached properties to the bonafide successful resolution application(SRA) who have a legitimate interest in it.Section 8(8) allows the Special Court to direct the Central Government to restore property that has been confiscated under the Act to a person or claimant who has a legitimate interest in it, upon conclusion of the trial. However, second...

Property From Illegal Cricket Betting Activities Constitutes 'Proceeds Of Crime', Can Be Attached By ED: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that though cricket betting is not a separate predicate offence under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, the property generated from such illegal activities can be attached by the Enforcement Directorate.A division bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar observed that the scope of Section 2(1)(u) PMLA, which defines proceeds of crime, is very wide.“Even if a downstream activity, such as conducting betting, is not a scheduled offence,...

Sandesara–Sterling Group Loan Fraud | Supreme Court Quashes Criminal Cases After Accused Agree To Pay Rs 5,100 Crore To Banks

The Supreme Court recently quashed all criminal and civil proceedings against Hemant S. Hathi and Chetan Jayantilal, accused in the Sandesara–Sterling Group bank fraud case, after they agreed to deposit Rs 5,100 crore as full and final settlement with lender banks.A bench of Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi, however, clarified that the directions were issued in the peculiar facts of the case with the purpose of protecting public money, and will not operate as a precedent.“it is...

ED Search Under PMLA Not Restricted To Persons Named In Complaint, Covers Those In Possession Of Proceeds Of Crime: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Friday clarified that Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) does not restrict the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to conduct searches only at the premises of persons who have been named in the prosecution complaint. A division bench comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Manoj Jain said that the provision of search also covers those individuals who are in possession of proceeds of crime but still may not be accused of any scheduled offence or...

Supplementary Complaint Under PMLA Doesn't Require Fresh Cognizance: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court recently observed that a supplementary complaint under Section 44 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act is not a fresh or independent complaint requiring the court to take cognisance. The bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq held that a supplementary complaint is a part and parcel of the main complaint for which cognisance has already been taken. The court added that taking multiple cognisance for the same offence would render the...

Delhi High Court Slams ED For Freezing Woman's Bank Accounts By Issuing 'Cryptic' Orders, Says 'Suspicion' Not 'Reason To Believe'

The Delhi High Court on Friday slammed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for freezing bank accounts of a woman on mere suspicion, while setting aside the agency's orders calling them “cryptic” in nature. A division bench comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar observed that “suspicion” cannot be equated to a “reason to believe” and cannot also be equated with a “prima facie” opinion.“The freezing orders dated 05.09.2018 themselves do not disclose any such...

Supreme Court Seeks ED's Response On Ex-Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji's Plea To Relax Bail Conditions In Money Laundering Case

The Supreme Court today issued notice on an application filed by ex-Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji seeking relaxation of his bail conditions in the money laundering case arising out of the cash-for-jobs 'scam'.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi passed the order, after hearing Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Narendra Hooda. Advocate Zoheb Hossain appeared for ED and Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan represented complainant-Y Balaji.During the hearing, Sibal...