SC indicates likely transfer of 2020 gold smuggling money laundering case to Karnataka, from Kerala

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday indicated its inclination to transfer the trial of the 2020 gold smuggling-related money laundering case from Kerala to Karnataka.

A bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal observed that, given the serious nature of the allegations, the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) request for the transfer should not be opposed.

The hearing was part of the ED's 2022 plea to shift the trial of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case, currently being heard at the Special PMLA Court in Ernakulam, to a Special PMLA Court in Karnataka.


Justice Sundresh, speaking for the bench, told counsel for one of the co-accused that "in all fairness" the accused should not oppose ED's plea for transfer of the trial.