PMLA review plea: Supreme Court to examine if it's 'appeal in disguise'

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will on August 28 commence hearing a slew of petitions seeking reconsideration of the top court's 2022 ruling vide which it had upheld the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, CT Ravikumar and Ujjal Bhuyan on Wednesday deferred the matter to August 28 after the Centre sought time for preparation.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that the 2022 judgement is wrong and warrants reconsideration. Speaking for the bench, Justice CT Ravikumar verbally observed that the court would have to examine whether the review petition is "an appeal in disguise".


The landmark judgement, under challenge, was delivered in July 2022 by a three-member bench which held that PMLA is a "unique and special legislation". Upholding the constitutional validity of relevant provisions of the 2002 Act, the three-member bench had last year upheld powers to hold inquiry, arrest, and attachment of property by the Enforcement Directorate.

Referring the matter to a three-member bench, SC had in last October verbally questioned whether a statement recorded by ED under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (admissible in court) be used by the prosecution in a predicate offence. The court had also verbally observed that the Supreme Court judges are "not infallible."