Madras High Court
Megala vs The State on 14 July, 2023
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED 14.07.2023
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN
H.C.P.No. 1021 of 2023
Megala ... Petitioner
..Vs..
1. The State
Represented by
Deputy Director
Directorate of Enforcement
Chennai.
2. The State Represented by
Assistant Director,
Directorate of Enforcement
Chennai. ... Respondents
PRAYER: Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying
for a direction to the respondents herein to produce the body of the
detenueby name Mr. Senthil Balaji, S/o. Velusamy, aged about 48 years,
before this Court and set him at liberty.
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2
For Petitioner :: Mr.Kapil Sibal
Senior Advocate
&
Mr. N.R.Elango
Senior Counsel
Assisted by
Mr. N.Bharani Kumar
&
Mr.Agilesh Kumar. S.
For Respondents :: Mr. Tushar Mehta
Solicitor General of India
Assisted by
Mr. Zohebltossain
Special Counsel
&
Mr.Kannu Agarwal
&
Mr.ARL.Sundaresan
Additional Solicitor General
Assisted by
Mr.N.Ramesh
Special Public Prosecutor
ORDER
This Habeas Corpus Petition has been filed by Mrs. Megala, a lady in
distress consequent to arrest of her husband V.Senthil Balaji, who was
arrested by the respondents in the dark morning of 13.06.2023.
2. V.Senthil Balaji would be called 'the detenue/ accused.'
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3. The relief sought in the petition is for a direction against the
respondents, in effect, the Directorate of Enforcement at Chennai,
represented by both its Deputy Director and Assistant Director, to produce
the body of the detenueand for the Court to set him at liberty.
4. This Petition had been filed on 14.06.2023 itself and since it
involved proceedings against a sitting Minister, it had been brought to the
notice of the Hon'ble Chief Justice. It was listed for hearing before a
Division Bench [M.Sundar & R.Sakthivel,J.] on 15.06.2023. On that date,
when the matter first came up, one of the learned Judges rescued himself.
The Division Bench noted as follows:-
“There is recusal by one of us [R.SAKTHIVEL, J.]
Registry to do the needful.”
5. On the very same day, taking advantage of the standing
instructions issued, there had been a mention before the Coordinate
Division Bench [Mrs.J.Nisha Banu and D.Bharatha Chakravarthy, JJ]
seeking urgent hearing of the matter. It was also listed before the said
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Division Bench. They passed interim orders, but this Court is not examining
the same, but would be referring to the same during the course of the
present order.
6. It is suffice to point out that the Division Bench finally
pronounced orders in the Habeas Corpus on 04.07.2023. For reasons which
they had substantiated in their respective Judgments, both the learned
Judges differed on crucial aspects.
7. Hon'ble Mrs. Justice J.Nisha Banu had held as follows:-
“1. The Writ of Habeas Corpus Petition is
maintainable;
2. Enforcement Directorate is not entrusted
with the powers to seek police custody under
the Prevention of Money Laundering Act,
2002;
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3. Miscellaneous Petition filed by
Respondent 1 seeking exclusion of the period is
dismissed; and
4. The detenue is ordered to be set at
liberty forthwith.”
8. On the other hand, Hon'ble Mr. Justice D.Bharatha
Chakravarthy held as follows:-
“(i). The Habeas Corpus Petition in
H.C.P.No. 1021 of 2023 shall stand dismissed
(ii). The period from 14.06.2023 till such
time the detenu/accused is fit for custody of the
respondent shall be deducted from the initial
period of 15 days under Section 167(2) of the
Code of Criminal Procedure;
(iii) The detenu/accused shall continue the
treatment at Cauvery Hospital until discharge or
for a period of 10 days from today whichever is
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earlier and thereafter, if further treatment is
necessary, it can be only at the Prison/Prison
Hospital as the case may be;
(iv) As and when he is medically fit, the
respondents will be able to move the appropriate
Court for custody and the same shall be
considered on its own merits in accordance with
law except not to be denied on the ground of
expiry of 15 days from the date of remand;
(v) However, there shall be no order as to
costs.”
9. This necessitated taking recourse Clause 36 of the Letters
Patent of the Madras High Court. Clause 36 of the Letters Patent is as
follows:-
"Single Judges and Division Courts.- And
We do hereby declare that any function which is
hereby directed to be performed by the said High
Court of Judicature at Madras, in the exercise of
its original or appellate jurisdiction, may be
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performed by any Judge, or by any Division Court
thereof, appointed or constituted for such purpose,
in pursuance of Section 108 of the Government of
India Act, 1915, and if such Division Court is
composed of two or more Judges, and the Judges
are divided in opinion as to the decision to be
given on any point, such point shall be decided
according to the opinion of the majority of the
Judges, if there shall be a majority, but if the
Judges should be equally divided they shall state
the point upon which they differ and the case
shall then be heard upon that point by one or
more of the other Judges and the point shall be
decided according to the opinion of the majority of
the Judges who have heard the case included who
those first heard it.”
10. The Registry had placed the matter before the Hon'ble Chief
Justice since the Judges were equally divided in their opinion and had come
to different conclusions. This required adjudication of the issues on the
points of difference by a third Judge.
11. When the matter was placed before the Hon'ble Chief Justice, it
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was directed that the matter should be placed before this court.
12. A reading of Clause 36 of the Letters Patent, extracted above
would also indicate that when a Division Bench is equally divided on the
reasons with respect to reaching a conclusion on any aspect, it was
obligatory on their part to reduce the points of difference in their judgment.
Unfortunately, this exercise was not done by the Division Bench.
Therefore, when the matter was listed before this Court, a request was
placed on the learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner
and the learned Solicitor General, who appeared on behalf of the
respondents, to participate in a discussion to reduce the points of difference
so that arguments could be focused on those particular points.
13. This Court had taken advantage of the dictum as stated
in(2007) 2 MLJ 129 [ All India Anna Dravida Munnertra Kazhagam Vs.
State Election Commissioner] and more particularly in paragraph No. 182
of the said Judgment, which is as follows:-
“182. Even though Clause 36 of the Letters
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Patent requires that if the opinion of the Judges
should be equally divided, “they shall state the
point upon which they differ and the case shall then
be heard upon that point by one or more of the
other Judges and the point shall be decided
according to the opinion of the majority of the
Judges who have heard the case including who
those first heard it”, no specific point on which
difference has arisen has been specified. When the
matter was placed before me, at the threshold this
aspect was highlighted by me and the learned
counsels appearing for all the parties have stated
that even though points of difference have not been
specifically pointed out by the Division Bench, the
difference as apparent from various discussions
and conclusions of the two learned Judges should
be culled out and should be decided on that basis
without returning the matter for spelling out the
difference.”
14. This provided a small window or a leverage to this Court to
frame the points of difference and keeping that in mind, I must place on
record my deep appreciation to both the learned Solicitor General and the
learned Senior Counsel on behalf of the petitioner for putting in writing the
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points of difference on which arguments were heard. Contentions were
discussed. Finally, this Court had framed the following three questions
which could be culled out from the Judgments of the two learned Judges as
the crucial aspects on which they had arrived at differing conclusions:-
(i) Whether the Enforcement Directorate has the power to seek
custody of a person arrested;
(ii) Whether the Habeas Corpus itself is maintainable after judicial
order of remand has been passed by a Court of competent jurisdiction?;
and
(iii) Whether as a consequential issue, if Issue No.1 is answered in
favour of the respondents owing to the particular circumstances of this
case, the Enforcement Directorate would be entitled to seek exclusion of
time of the period of hospitalization of the detenue which extended beyond
the period of 15 days from the date of first remand and therefore, whether
that period of hospitalisation could be excluded while taking into
consideration their request for police custody?
15. The entire issue surrounds the complaint that the acts of search
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in the premises of the detenue commenced at around 11.00 a.m., on
13.06.2023, continued right through the day, through out the evening,
through the night and finally culminated his arrest at 1.39 a.m., on
14.06.2023.
16. It is the grievance expressed by the petitioner that the entire
process from 11.00 a.m., onwards on 13.06.2023, had directly affected the
physical and other well being of the detenue. It is also complained that the
grounds of arrest were not intimated to the detenue and that his arrest was
therefore illegal and violative of his right guaranteed by the constitution to
be informed about the grounds of arrest.
17. Contrasting with this particular statement by the petitioner, the
respondents have contended that there was complete non co-operation by
the detenue and after at the time when the statement under Section 50 of
PMLA Act was sought to be recorded and therefore, when it was informed
that there were materials to hold that he should be arrested, the detenue had
thrown up a tantrum and had actually threatened the officials. It is claimed
that they informed him about the grounds of arrest but he refused to
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acknowledge receipt of either the grounds of arrest or any document
whatsoever. It was claimed that the entire proceedings were conducted in
the presence of the two witnesses.
18. It is also contended that since the detenue complained of
various illnesses, there was a compulsion to take him to Omandurar
Government Multispeciality Hospital and admit him there. It is also
contended that efforts to inform the brother and sister-in-law of the detenue
through phone could not materialise since the calls were not taken or
received by them. It is however contended that messages were sent to the
brother of the detenue and electronic mail was also sent to the petitioner
herein. These are all issues on facts which will have to be dealt with
independently.
19. It was under these circumstance that the Habeas Corpus
Petition came to be filed on 14.06.2023. Simultaneously, after the detenue
had been admitted at Omandurar Government Multispeciality Hospital, it
had also been stated that on that very same day / 14.06.2023 when the
Habeaus Corpus had been presented before this Court, a petition seeking
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remand of the detenue was filed before the jurisdictional Special Court,
namely, the Principal Sessions Court at Chennai. This was around 12.00 in
the noon. It was also contended by the respondent that the grounds of arrest
were also shown to the learned Principal Sessions Judge.
20. The learned Principal Sessions Judge, in accordance with
Criminal Rules of Procedure which necessitates the Magistrate or in this
case, the Sessions Judge to go over personally, if the detenue is not in a
position to be brought before the Court to visit the detenue for the purposes
of the initial remand, the learned Principal Sessions Judge had therefore
gone over to the said Hospital and had passed an order of remand
remanding the detenue to judicial custody.
21. Once the detenue had been so remanded, the nomenclature
changed from the 'detenue' to the 'accused'.
22. Since an order of remand had been passed by the learned
Principal Sessions Judge whose jurisdiction and power to pass such an
order of remand is not questioned, one of the issues on which the learned
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Judges had framed for further discussion and answered was whether the
Habeas Corpus Petition itself would be maintainable, or if maintainable,
entertainable, since the detenue had now metamorphosised into the
character of an accused on remand by the competent Court. The
responsibility of the accused stood vested with that Court. An issue will
therefore have to be examined whether even if the Habeas Corpus Petition
is to be allowed, the respondents herein could realistically produce the
detenue/accused before this Court and this Court come set him away at
liberty overlooking the order of remand. It has been informed that the
order of remand still subsists and has also been extended whenever the
period expired.
23. On the very same day, on 14.06.2023, the accused filed an
application seeking bail before the learned Principal Sessions Judge. The
respondents for good measure also filed an application seeking custody to
enable further investigation. The relief so sought was quite distinct from the
order of remand to judicial custody.
24. The learned Principal Sessions Judge, in the same evening,
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passed an order at around 6.00 p.m., dismissing the Petition seeking
rejection of the remand. The Petition seeking custody by the respondents
was taken up for hearing the next day/15.06.2023.
25. Parallely, the Habeas Corpus was also taken up for
consideration before the co-ordinate alternate bench in accordance with the
standing instructions. On 15.06.2023, the Division Bench heard arguments
advanced on behalf of the petitioner and also on behalf of the respondents
and had framed two questions, which according to them arose for
consideration:-
1. Whether the grounds raised on behalf of the detenue for non
compliance is factually correct; and
2. Even if they are factually correct whether it would amount to
absolute illegality.
26. These questions were framed on considering the arguments
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advanced that the remand by the learned Principal Sessions Judge, was
passed even when the Habeas Corpus Petition was pending before the
Division Bench. The Habeas Corpus Petition was therefore entertained and
notice returnable by 22.06.2023 was directed.
27. Simultaneously, an argument was also placed on behalf of the
petitioner that the detenu, who was then taking treatment at Omandurar
Government Multispeciality Hospital should be provided with better
treatment to his comfort and it was stated that one of his consulting Doctors
is working at Kauvery Hospital at Chennai. It was therefore expressed that
it would be to the advantage of the detenu, so far as his health condition is
concerned, to consider this request to admit him at Kauvery Hospital and
that the expenses would be taken care by the family.
28. After examining that particular request, the Division Bench
was of the opinion that he could be so shifted to Kauvery Hospital, for
emergency treatment as mentioned in the medical bulletin of the
Omandurar Government Multispeciality Hospital at Chennai dated
14.06.2023.
29. After that order was pronounced, the Additional Solicitor
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General had immediately pointed out and placed a request the period of
treatment undergone by the detenue or to be undergone from that particular
date by the detenue should be excluded when it comes to the question of
granting custody of the detenue to the respondents/Enforcement Directorate.
30. This issue of exclusion of days was kept open, but permission
was granted to both the sides to advance arguments on this particular aspect.
It is on that basis that a third issue came to be framed by the Division
Bench, namely, whether the period undergone in hospitalisation by the
detenue/accused should be excluded if custody is to be granted to the
respondent.
31. To continue with the proceedings before the learned Principal
Sessions Judge, on 16.06.2023, the learned Principal Sessions Judge passed
an order granting custody of the accused to the respondent but imposed
various conditions. It must be kept in mind that 16.06.2023 was a Friday
and this order was passed at around 6.00 p.m.
32. On the next day, on 17.06.2023, the respondents filed a memo
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before the said Court through electronic mail complaining and expressing
their difficulty in taking physical custody of the accused consequent to his
medical condition. A report in writing had also been obtained from the
Doctors at Kauvery Hospital.
33. On 19.06.2023/Monday, the respondents filed two Special
Leave Petitions before the Hon'ble Supreme Court primarily questioning the
conditions under which the custody was granted. The Hon'ble Supreme
Court took note of the fact that the Habeas Corpus Petition was listed for
hearing on 22.06.2023 before the Division Bench of this Court and
therefore relegated all issues to be answered by the Division Bench.
34. On 21.06.2023, the petitioner filed additional grounds and
sought that they may also be considered while examining the questions
framed by the Division Bench.
35. Arguments were advanced on 22.06.2023 before the Division
Bench. The order was pronounced on 04.07.2023 and as aforesaid, both the
learned Judges had expressed reasons to hold that they would not agree with
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the views expressed by the other.
36. This narration above is in so far as the proceedings before the
Division Bench and the learned Principal Sessions Judge are concerned,
commencing from 14.06.2023 onwards.
37. Before I delve further into the entire facts, it would only be
appropriate that the facts necessitating registration of what is termed as
ECIR by the respondents under PMLA Act, 2002 are stated to complete the
narration.
38. In this regard, I am fortunate that the issues had actually been
examined with relation to the facts of this very case by the Hon'ble Supreme
Court.
39. The Judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court had been reported
in 2023 SCC Online SC 645 [Y.Balaji Vs. Karthik Desari and Another].
The Judgment was actually rendered on a string of criminal appeals. Let me
refer to the Judgment to throw light on the back ground facts so far as this
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particular case is concerned.
40. I would willingly adopt the words of the Hon'ble Supreme
Court itself.
“Background Facts
6. The background facts necessary to
understand the complexities of the batch of
cases on hand are as follows:
(i) In November 2014, the Metropolitan
Transport Corporation, wholly owned by the
State of Tamil Nadu issued five
Advertisements, in Advertisement Nos. 1/2014
to 5/2014, calling for applications for
appointment to various posts such as Drivers
(746 posts), Conductors (610 posts), Junior
Tradesman (Trainee) (261 posts), Junior
Engineer (Trainee) (13 posts) and Assistant
Engineer (Trainee) (40 posts);
(ii) After interviews were held on
24.12.2014 and the Select List got published,
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one Devasagayam lodged a complaint on
29.10.2015 with the Chennai PS CCB against
10 individuals, alleging that he paid a sum of
Rs. 2,60,000/- to a Conductor by name Palani
for getting the job of Conductor in the
Transport Corporation for his son. However,
his son did not get a job and when he
confronted Palani, he was directed to several
persons. When he demanded at least the refund
of money, he did not get it. Therefore, he
lodged a complaint which was registered as
FIR No. 441 of 2015 for alleged offences under
Sections 406, 420 read with Section 34 of the
Penal Code, 1860 . In this complaint, the
accused who are now before us, including the
one who is holding the post of Minister in the
Government of Tamil Nadu were not
implicated.
(iii) Similarly, one Gopi gave a petition
dated 07.03.2016 to the Commissioner of
Police claiming that he had applied for the
post of Conductor and that after the interviews,
he was approached by one Ashokan claiming
to be the brother and one Karthik claiming to
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be the brother-in-law of the Minister Senthil
Balaji, demanding a bribe for securing
appointment and that he had paid a sum of Rs.
2,40,000/- to those persons. Complaining that
the Police did not register his complaint, the
said Gopi filed a petition in Crl. OP No. 7503
of 2016 on the file of the High Court of
Judicature at Madras under Section 482 of the
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 seeking a
direction to the Commissioner of Police to
register his complaint and investigate the
same.
(iv) The said Crl. OP No. 7503 of 2016
filed by Gopi was disposed of by a learned
Judge of the High Court by an Order dated
20.06.2016. In the said order, it was recorded
that according to the Additional Public
Prosecutor, 81 persons had given similar
complaints to the Police and that the complaint
given by Devasagayam had been registered as
FIR No. 441 of 2015. The Additional Public
Prosecutor took a stand before the High Court
in the said petition filed by Gopi that all the 81
persons including Gopi will be enlisted as
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witnesses in the complaint registered at the
instance of Devasagayam.
(v) When it was stated by the Additional
Public Prosecutor at the time of hearing of the
petition filed by Gopi that all 81 persons
including Gopi will be cited as witnesses, in
the complaint filed by Devasagayam, the
petitioner Gopi objected to the same on the
ground that Devasagayam had already been
won over by the accused. In fact, it was pointed
out that the Minister did not figure as an
accused in the complaint of Devasagayam. A
specific grievance was projected by Gopi that
the Police are not going beyond the lower level
officers. Accepting his statement, the High
Court passed an Order dated 20.06.2016 in
Crl. OP No. 7503 of 2016 filed by Gopi,
holding that the Police is duty bound to probe
beyond the lower level minions to find out
where the money had gone. After so holding,
the Court directed the Assistant Commissioner
of Police, Central Crime Branch (Job
Racketing) to take over the investigation in FIR
No. 441 of 2015 and also directing the Deputy
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Commissioner of Police to monitor the same.
The Court also held that since a FIR has
already been registered at the behest of
Devasagayam, it is not necessary to have
another FIR registered on the
complaint/representation made by Gopi.
(vi) Despite the direction issued by the
High Court on 20.06.2016 to the Police to go
beyond lower level officers and find out where
the money trail ends (more than about 2 crores
allegedly given to the Minister during January
and March, 2015) and despite Gopi making
specific averments against the brother and
brother-in-law of the Minister, the Police filed
a Final Report on 13.06.2017 under Section
173(2) of the Code, only against 12 individuals
including those 10 persons named by
Devasagayam. Upon the filing of the Final
Report, the case got numbered as Calendar
Case No. 3627 of 2017 in FIR No. 441 of 2015.
Neither the Minister nor his brother or
brother-in-law, were cited as accused, in the
Final Report. The accused named in the Final
Report were charged only for the offences
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under Sections 406, 420 and 419 read with
Section 34 IPC and not under any provisions
of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 .
(vii) One V. Ganesh Kumar then lodged
a criminal complaint in FIR No. 298 of 2017
on 09.09.2017 with the Chennai PS CCB,
against four persons including the Minister
Senthil Balaji. It was stated in his complaint
that he was an employee of the Transport
Department and that one of his colleagues by
name Annaraj and his friend R. Sahayarajan
were taken by one Prabhu (a relative of the
Minister) to the house of the Minister Senthil
Balaji and that the Minister instructed them to
collect money from persons aspiring to get
appointment as Drivers and Conductors. It was
further stated in the complaint that as per the
directions of the Minister, an amount totaling
to Rs. 95 lakhs was collected during the period
from 28.12.2014 to 10.01.2015 and that though
the amount was given to Prabhu and
Sahayarajan, the persons who parted with
money did not get appointed. Therefore,
persons who paid money started exerting
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pressure upon V. Ganesh Kumar forcing him
to lodge a complaint on 09.09.2017. Even this
complaint, registered as FIR No. 298 of 2017,
was only for offences under Sections 406, 420
and 506(1). A Final Report was filed on
07.06.2018 in FIR No. 298 of 2017, against the
Minister Senthil Balaji and three others, only
for offences punishable under Sections 420 and
506(1) read with Section 34 IPC. This Final
Report was filed before the Special Court and
the case was numbered as CC No. 19 of 2020.
Despite specific allegations, the offences under
the PC Act were not included.
(viii) Another complaint was lodged by
one K. Arulmani, on 13.08.2018 with the
Commissioner of Police, Chennai City,
complaining that a huge amount of Rs.
40,00,000/- was collected by his friends who
wanted to get employment in the Transport
Corporation and that the money was actually
paid to Shanmugam, PA to the Minister at the
residence of the Minister in the first week of
January, 2015. It was further stated in the
complaint that after money was paid to
Shanmugam, the complainant also met Ashok
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Kumar (brother of the Minister) and Senthil
Balaji (Minister) and that the Minister assured
to get appointment orders issued. This
complaint was registered by Chennai CCB PS
as FIR No. 344 of 2018, again for offences
only under Section 406, 420 and 506(1) IPC.
We do not know why the State Police were
averse to the idea of including the offences
punishable under the PC Act, in any of the
three FIRs. While one may be averse to
corruption, one cannot be averse to the PC
Act.
(ix) As had happened in respect of the
other two complaints, the complaint in FIR No.
344 of 2018 was also investigated (or not
investigated) and a Final Report was filed on
12.04.2019. Even this Final Report, taken on
record in Calendar Case No. 25 of 2021 did
not include the offences under the PC Act.
(x) At this juncture, a person by name
R.B. Arun Kumar, working as a Driver in the
Metropolitan Transport Corporation and who
was cited as witness LW 47 in the Final Report
in CC No. 3627 of 2017 arising out of FIR No.
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441 of 2015 (Devasagayam's complaint)
moved the Madras High Court by way of a
petition under Section 482 of the Code in Crl.
O.P No. 32067 of 2019, seeking further
investigation in the case, on the ground that
the State Police have not acted as per the
directions issued by the High Court in its order
dated 20.06.2016 in Crl. O.P. No. 7503 of
2016 to go beyond the lower level officers. In
his petition, R.B. Arun Kumar also pointed out
that the specific allegation of a huge amount of
more than Rs. 2 crores, having been paid to the
Minister Senthil Balaji, had been completely
suppressed by the investigating agency and
that a dummy charge-sheet had been filed
against minions. Therefore, by an order dated
27.11.2019, the High Court directed the
Assistant Commissioner of Police, CCB (Job
Racketing) to conduct further investigation in
CC No. 3627 of 2017 and to complete the same
within six months.
(xi) Emboldened by the non-inclusion of
the offences under the PC Act in any of the
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three charge-sheets, Minister Senthil Balaji,
arrayed as Accused No. 1 in CC No. 19 of
2020 arising out of FIR No. 298 of 2017
lodged by V. Ganesh Kumar, filed a petition in
Criminal M.P. No. 7968 of 2020 seeking his
discharge in CC No. 19 of 2020. But the
Special Court dismissed the petition for
discharge, by an order dated 26.08.2020.
Against the said order dismissing his discharge
petition, the Minister filed a criminal revision
petition in Crl. R.C. No. 224 of 2021 on the file
of the High Court.
(xii) But in the meantime, a Final
(further) Report under Section 173 (8) of the
Code was filed in C.C. No. 24 of 2021 against
47 persons including the Minister Senthil
Balaji and Shanmugam (PA to the Minister) in
which the offences under the PC Act were
included.
(xiii) Upon coming to know of the way in
which the entire recruitment of candidates to
various posts in the Transport Corporation
had gone on, candidates who appeared for the
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selection but did not get selected started filing
writ petitions, challenging the entire selection.
A writ petition in WP No. 9061 of 2021 was
filed by one A. Nambi Venkatesh seeking to set
at naught, the appointment of Junior
Engineers. Similarly, one P. Dharmaraj and
M. Govindarasu filed a writ petition in WP No.
8991 of 2021, with regard to the post of
Assistant Engineers.
(xiv) In May, 2021 the political climate
in the State changed. Though the principal
actors changed, the script remained the same
for the victims and the political fortunes of the
Minister continued, as he got a berth in the
Cabinet, even in the new dispensation.
(xv) Thereafter, the person alleged to
be the PA to the Minister, namely,
Shanmugam, who was arrayed as Accused
No. 3 in CC No. 25 of 2021 arising out of
FIR No. 344 of 2018 lodged by Arulmani,
filed a petition in Crl.O.P No. 13374 of 2021
on the file of the High Court seeking to
quash CC No. 25 of 2021. He claimed in the
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said petition that a compromise had been
reached between the victims (Arulmani and
others and the accused) and that, therefore,
the complaint may be quashed. Following
in CC No. 19 of 2020 also filed a quash
petition in Crl.O.P No. 13914 of 2021,
enclosing a joint compromise memo seeking
to quash CC No. 19 of 2020. Similarly, one
Vetrichelvan (Accused No. 10) filed Crl. O.P
No. 6621 of 2021 for quashing the
proceedings in CC No. 24 of 2021.
(xvi) By an order dated 30.07.2021,
the High Court quashed CC No. 25 of 2021
on the basis of the Joint Compromise Memo.
This order was passed completely
overlooking the nature of the allegations, the
offences for which the accused ought to have
been charged as well as the previous orders
passed by the High Court itself.
(xvii) Just a day before the High Court
passed orders quashing CC No. 25 of 2021,
the ED registered an Information Report on
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29.07.2021 in ECIR/MDSZO/21/2021 and
issued summons to the Minister Senthil
Balaji.
(xviii) At this stage, Devasagayam
of 2015 and in whose case a Final Report
was filed in CC No. 3627 of 2017, filed a
very strange petition on the file of the High
Court in Crl.O.P. No. 15122 of 2021 seeking
de novo investigation in CC No. 24 of 2021.
It must be recalled at this stage that
Devasagayam's complaint was registered as
FIR No. 441 of 2015 dated 29.10.2015 and a
Final Report was filed therein on 13.06.2017
leading to Calendar Case No. 3627 of 2017.
But by the orders of the High Court, the
complaint of Gopi and others got clubbed
with the investigation in Devasagayam's
case leading to the registration of a separate
Calendar Case in CC No. 24 of 2021. The
clubbing actually happened after an
allegation was made before the High Court
by Gopi, (petitioner in Crl. O.P No. 7503 of
2016) to the effect that Devasagayam had
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been won over. While ordering the complaint
of Gopi to be clubbed with the investigation
in FIR No. 441 of 2015, the High Court did
not perhaps realize that it may enable
Devasagayam to derail (incidentally he had
retired from Railways and the word “derail”
of 2021.
(xix) Finding that the offences under
the PC Act were included only in one of the
cases and not in others and that it had
enabled the High Court even to quash one of
the four calendar cases on the basis of a
Joint Compromise Memo, candidates who
were unsuccessful in the recruitment and
who had filed writ petitions in the High
Court challenging the process of selection,
filed impleadment petitions, both in the
quash petitions in other cases as well as in
the petition filed by Devasagayam for de
novo investigation.
(xx) At this stage, ED filed
miscellaneous petitions in CC Nos. 19/20,
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24/21 and 25/21 before the Trial Court
seeking certified copies of the FIR,
statements of witnesses, Final Report, etc. By
an order dated 09.11.2021, the Trial Court
directed the supply of certified copies of the
FIRs, complaints and the statements under
Sections 161 and 164 of the Code. However,
the Trial Court refused to issue certified
copies of unmarked documents.
(xxi) As against the order dated
30.07.2021 passed by the Madras High
Court quashing CC No. 25 of 2021 on the
basis of the Joint Compromise Memo, a
special leave petition was filed by one P.
Dharmaraj. It may be recalled that he was
one of the unsuccessful candidates and he
had filed a writ petition seeking to quash the
entire selection.
(xxii) An NGO by name Anti-
Corruption Movement also filed a special
leave petition against the order of the High
Court quashing CC No. 25 of 2021.
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(xxiii) Aggrieved by one portion of the
order of the Trial Court refusing to grant
certified copies of unmarked documents, the
ED filed petitions before the High Court. By
an order dated 30.03.2022 the High Court
permitted ED to conduct an inspection under
Rule 237 of the Criminal Rules of Practice,
2019 and thereafter to make third party copy
applications for supply of copies of
documents. The High Court also noted that
under Rule 238, ED was entitled even to take
extracts and thereafter file a fresh third
party copy application before the Special
Court. Challenging the limited relief granted
by the High Court to ED in its order dated
in CC No. 3627 of 2017 (CC No. 24/2021)
has come up with a special leave petition
which forms part of the present batch of
cases.
(xxiv) Thereafter, three writ petitions
came to be filed, one by Minister Senthil
Balaji and another by Shanmugam, alleged
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to be his Secretary and the third by Ashok
Kumar (brother of the Minister), challenging
the summons issued by ED. These writ
petitions were allowed by the High Court by
an order dated 01.09.2022, primarily on the
ground that one of the four calendar cases
had already been quashed by the High Court
by order dated 30.07.2021 on the basis of a
Joint Compromise Memo and that further
proceedings in the other calendar cases had
been stayed by the High Court.
(xxv) But by a Judgment dated
08.09.2022, this Court overturned the order
of the High Court dated 30.07.2021 and not
only restored the calendar cases back to file
but also directed the inclusion of the offences
under the PC Act.
(xxvi) Despite the Judgment of this
Court dated 08.09.2022, the High Court
passed an order dated 31.10.2022 allowing
the petition filed by Devasagayam and
ordered a de novo investigation.
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(xxvii) Therefore, challenging the
order of the High Court dated 01.09.2022
quashing the summons issued by them, ED
has come up with three appeals and the
candidate who was unsuccessful in the
selection and who has filed a writ petition
before the High Court has come up with one
appeal.
(xxviii) Challenging the order of the
High Court dated 31.10.2022 directing de
novo investigation, the ED has come up with
one appeal, two candidates who were
unsuccessful in the selection have come up
with two separate appeals, Anti-Corruption
Movement has come up with one appeal, the
person who compromised the matter with the
accused and supported the accused before
the High Court for quashing the complaint
has come up with one appeal and one of the
accused has come up with another appeal.
(xxix) In other words, we have four
appeals on hand arising out of the order of
the High Court dated 01.09.2022 quashing
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the summons issued by ED. Similarly, we
have six appeals challenging the order dated
31.10.2022 passed by the High Court
directing de novo investigation.
(xxx) We have two more appeals,
which do not form part of the main stream.
One of them is by an accused challenging the
order of the High Court dated 30.03.2022,
permitting the ED to conduct an inspection
of the documents before the Trial Court
under Rule 237 of the Rules, 2019. Another
appeal is filed by the unsuccessful candidate
challenging an order passed by the High
Court dismissing a petition for extension of
time to complete investigation.
(xxxi) Thus, we have on hand 12
appeals, four of them challenging the
quashing of summons issued by ED, six of
them challenging the order for de novo
investigation, one of them challenging an
order permitting ED to have inspection of
documents and the last arising out of the
order refusing to grant further time for
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completion of investigation.
(xxxii) Other than the appeals, we
also have two contempt petitions filed by the
Anti-Corruption Movement, complaining
willful disobedience by the State of the
directions issued by this Court in the order
dated 08.09.2022 in Criminal Appeal Nos.
1515-1516 of 2022.
(xxxiii) We also have an application
in IA No. 26527 of 2023 filed by the
appellant in one of these appeals, who is an
unsuccessful candidate. The prayer in this
application is for the constitution of a
Special Investigation Team to undertake a
comprehensive investigation into the entire
scam and for the appointment of a senior
lawyer of repute as the Special Public
Prosecutor to prosecute the accused. This
application is taken out on the ground that a
similar prayer made in Criminal Appeal Nos.
1514-1516 of 2022 was turned down by this
Court, in the order dated 08.09.2022, in the
hope that the State Police would act fairly
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and impartially. According to the
applicant/appellant, the State Police had
belied the hope expressed by this Court and
that therefore it is now time to constitute a
Special Investigation Team.”
41. I must point out that the above is a reduction of the facts by the
Hon'ble Supreme Court to decide the appeals therein. They however give
a fair indication as to the journey travelled by the detenue and the officials
who, had conducted enquiry or investigation into the allegations in the
complaints mentioned therein.
42. Quite briefly the aforementioned facts state that in November
2014, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation, which had issued an
advertisement for any appointments to various post of drivers, conductors,
junior tradesmen, Junior Engineers and Assistant Engineers. The detenue at
that relevant point of time was the Minster of Transport. As seen from the
facts narrated by the Hon'ble Supreme Court extracted above, complaints
were made of demand of bribe offering jobs and the central complaint was
by one Devasagayam, consequent to which FIR in Crime No. 441 of 2015
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had been registered by the Central Crime Branch at Chennai against ten
individuals. The detenue herein was not one of the accused. There were
further complaints given by other individuals. The matter meandered
around. Finally when a final report was filed, as noted by the Hon'ble
Supreme Court, the defacto complainant Devasagayam, who should have
been contended with the fact that a final report was finally filed by the
Investigating Agency had found fault with the final report and claimed that
the persons whom he had not mentioned as accused/ the detenue herein had
been implicated as accused in the said final report and therefore, turned
around and filed a petition before the High Court to conduct de novo
investigation which would mean to wiping out that particular final report
and to start investigation once again. The Hon'ble Supreme Court had
commented upon the order passed on that application and for completion of
narration, I must point out their opinion.
43. It had been stated that “what was compromised between the
complainant and the accused is not just their disputes,but justice, fair
play and good conscience and the fundamental principles of criminal
jurisprudence”.
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44. The Hon'ble Supreme Court further stated “in fact the case on
hand is one where there are two teams just for the purpose of record, no
one knows who is playing for which team and where the match was
fixed”.
45. The Hon'ble Supreme Court further stated in paragraph No. 36
of the aforementioned Judgment “the investigation and trial of a criminal
case cannot be converted by the complainant and the accused into a
friendly match. If they are allowed to do so, it is the Umpire who will lose
his wicket.”
46. This is the background under which the Hon'ble Supreme
Court proceeded to hear the criminal appeals. The Judgment was delivered
on 16.05.2023. The fundamental aspect on which the Hon'ble Supreme
Court adjudicated was a Judgment of a learned Single Judge of this Court,
who had practically wiped out the earlier orders of the Hon'ble Supreme
Court and a fresh investigation had been directed to be conducted. That
order of the learned Single Judge was set aside and the Hon'ble Supreme
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Court stated that all the three Writ Petitions challenging initiation of
proceedings by Enforcement Directorate shall stand dismissed, which in
effect gave a green flag for the respondents herein to proceed further on
the ECIR which they had registered.
47. I must also point out a further observation of the Hon'ble
Supreme Court, in paragraph No. 40 wherein it had been stated “it is an
irony that persons, who are victims of a huge jobs for cash scam are
alleged to have come to Court with unclean hands by persons, whose
hands were allegedly tainted with corruption money”.
48. I must also point out the observation at paragraph No.18. “It
is seen from the above averment of Devasagayam that he was virtually
pleading the case of the accused and seeking de novo investigation. But
alas, Devasagayam was not the only one to be blamed. He had a silent
partner in the prosecution which we shall see now".
49. These are telling observations by the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
They go to the root of the matter. These facts are be stated required to be
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stated to understand why a search was conducted on 13.06.2023 and why
the conduct of the detenue, as stated by the respondents, was threatening in
nature.
50. In paragraph No. 17, the Hon'ble Supreme Court had further
observed that “it appears that Devasagayam, originally seems to have had
a genuine grievance against the culprits at the bottom of the layer but he
later turned out to be a trojan horse, willing to sabotage the investigation
against the influential people”.
51. There is yet another observation made and which had been
extracted narrating the facts as stated by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in (xiv)
above, wherein the Hon'ble Supreme Court took judicial note of one
peculiar fact, namely, “in May 2021, the political climate in the State
changed. Though the principle actors changed, the script remained the
same for the victims and the political fortunes of the Minister continued,
as he got a berth in the cabinet, even in the new dispensation”.
52. With this as the background, the facts stated in the Habeas
Corpus Petition will have to be examined.
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53. I must also point out that this Judgment of the Hon'ble
Supreme Court was not brought to the notice of this Court by either of the
learned Senior Counsels for the petitioner or by the learned Solicitor
General. There is only a passing extract from it in the written notes
presented by the learned Solicitor General.
54. That Judgment gave the facts leading to the registration of the
ECIR by the respondents herein and also speaks upon the conduct of the
detenue.
55. In the Habeas Corpus Petition, the petitioner had stated that a
case has been registered against the detenue which is now pending as
C.C.Nos. 19 24 and 25 of 2021 before the Additional Special Court for Trial
of MP's / MLA's. It was also stated that in the final reports, the offences
alleged were under Sections 406, 409, 420, 506(i) read with 34 of IPC. It
was also stated that the said offences were alleged to have been committed
in the year 2014 when the detenue was Minister for Transport, Government
of Tamilnadu.
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56. It had been further stated in the affidavit that the allegation was
that some of the employees of the detenue had received money for
appointments in the Transport Corporation. She further stated that there was
no direct allegation against the detenue and none of the witnesses had
implicated him in those cases.
57. This statement has to be balanced with the facts as stated by the
Hon'ble Supreme Court in the Judgment referred supra which had presented
a distinctly different view.
58. It had also been stated in the affidavit that the respondent/
Enforcement Directorate had registered an Enforcement Case Information
Report/ ECIR on the basis of the allegations in aforementioned Calendar
Cases.
59. It had then been further stated that on 13.06.2023, the
respondents suddenly came to the official residence of the detenue at
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Greenways Road in Chennai in the morning and commenced interrogation
at 7.30 a.m. She further stated that she reliabily learned that the
interrogation was conducted for a period of 16 hours and that the detenue he
was not provided food or water and that he suddenly fell sick, suffered
severe chest pain and breathing trouble, consequent to which he was
admitted in the Tamilnadu Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital and
was getting treatment.
60. She also stated in the affidavit that his official residence was
searched and his office at the Secretariat was also searched. She also stated
that he was illegally detained in his house and was not allowed to meet any
of his relatives, friends and advocates. She finally stated that he was under
the illegal custody by the respondents.
61. She further stated that she reliably learnt that he gave his fullest
co-operation for the enquiry conducted by the respondents and that the
respondents had detained him without following due process of law. She
also stated that she had come to understand that the detenue was arrested at
around 1.30 a.m., on 14.06.2023 for the offence under Section 4 of the
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PMLA Act 2002. She further claimed that she came to know about this
arrest only when the electronic media flash a news that he was arrested.
62. Let me at this juncture take the case of the respondents, who
stated that just after, after 8.00 a.m., on 14.06.2023 itself, an electronic mail
had been sent to the from the petitioner. This fact was suppressed in the
Habeas Corpus Petition.
63. She further enlightened the provisions of Section 4 of PMLA
Act. She also stated about Section 41(A) of the Code of Criminal Procedure
and also stated that she had been advised to state that the Hon'ble Supreme
Court in Satender Kumar Antil vs. Central Bureau of Investigation and
Another [2021 SCC Online SC 3302] had emphasised that there should be
compliance of the procedure under Section 41-A of the Code of Criminal
Procedure. She also reproduced the relevant paragraphs of the said
Judgment for easy reference of the Division Bench which had heard the
Habeas Corpus Petition and also for quick reference of this Court.
64. She also brought to the notice about Article 22(1) of the
Constitution of India and stated that in accordance with the same, no
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person, who is arrested shall be detained in custody without being informed,
as soon as may be, of the grounds for such arrest nor shall he be denied the
right to consult, and to be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice.
65. She also referred to Sections 50 and 50 A of Cr.P.C., and
though she stated that she is extracting the same, the provisions had is not
been extracted in the petition.
66. She also referred to Section 60-A of the Code of Criminal
Procedure.
67. She also stated that she had been advised to bring to the notice
of the Division Bench, the ruling of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Madhu
Limaye and Others 1969 1 SCC 292 and extracted paragraph Nos. 11 and
12 of the said Judgment.
68. She finally claimed that the detenue/ her husband was illegally
detained from 7.00 a.m., on 13.06.2023 till 2.00 a.m., on 14.06.2023 and
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was also incidentally manhandled by the respondents and their Officers and
that he became seriously ill and after the arrest for getting medical fitness
certificate for the purpose of remand, he was taken to Omandurar
Government Multispeciality Hospital at Chennai about 2.00 a.m. She also
extracted the opinion of the Doctors of the hospital. They had referred to the
detenue as Hon'ble Minister Thiru. V.Senthil Balaji, aged 47 / male,
presented with C/o. Chest on 14.06.2023 at 2.10 a.m. They then proceeded
to certify that at that time he had suffered from Tachycardia with
Acceleration Hypertension and Abnormal ECG changes. They also stated
that he had been admitted in the hospital and was under constant
observation in Cardiac ICU. They also stated that he was under the critical
case of the Management of the hospital.
69. The petitioner also stated in her affidavit that the action of the
respondents had a political motive. She charged the respondents as being an
agency of the Union Government, used to defame and demoralise the
detenu, who according to her was a successful Minister of the Government
of Tamil Nadu.
70. She stated that she had sent a report on 14.06.2023 to the
respondents but complained that the same was not considered.
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71. It was under those circumstances calling upon the Court to
issue a writ of Habeas Corpus seeking to produce the body of the detenue/
her husband that she had presented the Habeas Corpus Petition on
14.06.2023 itself.
72. The above, in effect are the allegations under which the Habeas
Corpus Petition came to be filed.
73. Even before examining other facts or the arguments advanced
by, it would only be appropriate that a brief outlay is given as to what
exactly are the scope and objects of the Act which is now under
consideration, namely, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and
also incidentally about the locus or status of the respondents.
74. It is quite interesting to note that the Enforcement Directorate
was established as early as on 01.05.1956. This would evidently mean as an
organisation or as an entity it has been in the public field for more than half
a century. It is stated to be a law enforcement agency, charged with
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responsibility to prevent economic loss and to fight economic crime. The
Act as such, namely, PMLA 2002 was granted the assent of the His
Excellency, the President of India on 17.01.2023.
75. In the objects, it had been stated that it is an Act to prevent
money laundering and to provide for confiscation of property derived or
involved in money laundering and for matters connected there to or
incidental there to. It had been enacted consequent to two resolutions
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to which India is also a
signatory.
76. In the said Act, Sub-Section 2 is the definition provision. A
few relevant provisions are extracted:-
77. Section 2(a) defines an Adjudication Authority as follows:-
“Adjudicating Authority” means an
Adjudicating Authority appointed under sub-
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section (1) of section 6;”
78. Section 2(1)(b) defines an Appellate Tribunal, as follows:-
““Appellate Tribunal” means the
Appellate Tribunal referred to in section 25;”
79. Section 2(n)(a) defines investigation as follows:-
““investigation” includes all the
proceedings under this Act conducted by the
Director or by an authority authorized by the
Central Government under this Act for the
collection of evidence;”
80. Section 3 in Chapter II gives the definition of the offence of
money laundering. It is as follows:-
“Whosoever directly or indirectly attempts
to indulge or knowingly assists or knowingly is a
party or is actually involved in any process or
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activity connected with the proceeds of crime
including its concealment, possession,
acquisition or use and projecting or claiming it
as untainted property shall be guilty of offence of
money-laundering.
Explanation.—For the removal of doubts,
it is hereby clarified that,—
(i) a person shall be guilty of offence of
money-laundering if such person is found to have
directly or indirectly attempted to indulge or
knowingly assisted or knowingly is a party or is
actually involved in one or more of the following
processes or activities connected with proceeds
of crime, namely:—
(a) concealment; or
(b) possession; or
(c) acquisition; or
(d) use; or
(e) projecting as untainted property; or
(f) claiming as untainted property,
in any manner whatsoever;
(ii) the process or activity connected with
proceeds of crime is a continuing activity and
continues till such time a person is directly or
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indirectly enjoying the proceeds of crime by its
concealment or possession or acquisition or use
or projecting it as untainted property or claiming
it as untainted property in any manner
whatsoever.”
81. Section 4 gives the punishment for money laundering. It is as
follows:-
“Whoever commits the offence of money-
laundering shall be punishable with rigorous
imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than
three years but which may extend to seven years and
shall also be liable to fine:
Provided that where the proceeds of crime
involved in money-laundering relates to any offence
specified under paragraph 2 of Part A of the
Schedule, the provisions of this section shall have
effect as if for the words “which may extend to seven
years”, the words “which may extend to ten years”
had been substituted.”
82. Chapter 3 of the said Act deals with attachment of the property
involved in money laundering and Section 5 and Section 6 are about
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adjudicating authorities. Section 8 is about the actual adjudication. Section
16 gives the power of survey. It is as follows:-
“(1)Notwithstanding anything contained in
any other provisions of this Act, where an authority,
on the basis of material in his possession, has
reason to believe (the reasons for such belief to be
recorded in writing) that an offence under section 3
has been committed, he may enter any place—
(i) within the limits of the area assigned to
him; or
(ii) in respect of which he is authorised for
the purposes of this section by such other authority,
who is assigned the area within which such place is
situated,
at which any act constituting the commission of
such offence is carried on, and may require any
proprietor, employee or any other person who may
at that time and place be attending in any manner
to, or helping in, such act so as to,—
(i) afford him the necessary facility to inspect
such records as he may require and which may be
available at such place;
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(ii) afford him the necessary facility to check
or verify the proceeds of crime or any transaction
related to proceeds of crime which may be found
therein; and
(iii) furnish such information as he may
require as to any matter which may be useful for, or
relevant to, any proceedings under this Act.
Explanation—For the purposes of this sub-
section, a place, where an act which constitutes the
commission of the offence is carried on, shall also
include any other place, whether any activity is
carried on therein or not, in which the person
carrying on such activity states that any of his
records or any part of his property relating to such
act are or is kept.
(2) The authority referred to in sub-section
(1) shall, after entering any place referred to in that
sub-section immediately after completion of survey,
forward a copy of the reasons so recorded along
with material in his possession, referred to in that
sub-section, to the Adjudicating Authority in a
sealed envelope, in the manner as may be
prescribed and such Adjudicating Authority shall
keep such reasons and material for such period as
may be prescribed.
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(3) An authority acting under this section
may—
(i) place marks of identification on the
records inspected by him and make or cause to be
made extracts or copies there from,
(ii) make an inventory of any property
checked or verified by him, and
(iii) record the statement of any person
present in the place which may be useful for, or
relevant to, any proceeding under this Act.”
83. Section 17 relates to search and seizure. It is as follows:-
“(1) Where the Director or any other
officer not below the rank of Deputy Director
authorised by him for the purposes of this
section, on the basis of information in his
possession, has reason to believe (the reason
for such belief to be recorded in writing) that
any person—
(i) has committed any act which
constitutes money-laundering, or
(ii) is in possession of any proceeds of
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crime involved in money-laundering, or
(iii) is in possession of any records
relating to money-laundering, or
(iv) is in possession of any property
related to crime,
then, subject to the rules made in this
behalf, he may authorise any officer
subordinate to him to—
(a) enter and search any building, place,
vessel, vehicle or aircraft where he has reason
to suspect that such records or proceeds of
crime are kept;
(b) break open the lock of any door, box,
locker, safe, almirah or other receptacle for
exercising the powers conferred by clause (a)
where the keys thereof are not available;
(c) seize any record or property found as
a result of such search;
(d) place marks of identification on such
record or property, if required or make or
cause to be made extracts or copies therefrom;
(e) make a note or an inventory of such
record or property;
(f) examine on oath any person, who is
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found to be in possession or control of any
record or property, in respect of all matters
relevant for the purposes of any investigation
under this Act:
2* * * * * 3(1A) Where it is not
practicable to seize such record or property,
the officer authorised under sub-section (1),
may make an order to freeze such property
whereupon the property shall not be
transferred or otherwise dealt with, except with
the prior permission of the officer making such
order, and a copy of such order shall be served
on the person concerned:
Provided that if, at any time before its
confiscation under sub-section (5) or sub-
section (7) of section 8 or section 58B or sub-
section (2A) of section 60, it becomes practical
to seize a frozen property, the officer
authorised under sub-section (1) may seize
such property.
(2) The authority, who has been
authorised under sub-section (1) shall,
immediately after search and seizure or upon
issuance of a freezing order, forward a copy of
the reasons so recorded along with material in
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his possession, referred to in that sub-section,
to the Adjudicating Authority in a sealed
envelope, in the manner, as may be prescribed
and such Adjudicating Authority shall keep
such reasons and material for such period, as
may be prescribed.
(3) Where an authority, upon
information obtained during survey under
section 16, is satisfied that any evidence shall
be or is likely to be concealed or tampered
with, he may, for reasons to be recorded in
writing, enter and search the building or place
where such evidence is located and seize that
evidence:
Provided that no authorisation referred
to in sub-section (1) shall be required for
search under this sub-section. 4[(4) The
authority seizing any record or property under
sub-section (1) or freezing any record or
property under sub-section (1A) shall, within a
period of thirty days from such seizure or
freezing, as the case may be, file an
application, requesting for retention of such
record or property seized under sub-section (1)
or for continuation of the order of freezing
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served under sub-section (1A), before the
Adjudicating Authority.]”
84. Section 19 gives the power to arrest. It is as follows:-
“19. Power to arrest.—
(1) If the Director, Deputy Director,
Assistant Director, or any other officer
authorised in this behalf by the Central
Government by general or special order, has on
the basis of material in his possession reason to
believe (the reason for such belief to be recorded
in writing) that any person has been guilty of an
offence punishable under this Act, he may arrest
such person and shall, as soon as may be, inform
him of the grounds for such arrest.
(2) The Director, Deputy Director,
Assistant Director or any other officer shall,
immediately after arrest of such person under
sub-section (1), forward a copy of the order,
along with the material in his possession, referred
to in that sub-section, to the Adjudicating
Authority, in a sealed envelope, in the manner, as
may be prescribed and such Adjudicating
Authority shall keep such order and material for
such period, as may be prescribed.
(3) Every person arrested under sub-
section (1) shall within twenty-four hours, be
taken to a Judicial Magistrate or a Metropolitan
Magistrate, as the case may be, having
jurisdiction: Provided that the period of twenty-
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four hours shall exclude the time necessary for
the journey from the place of arrest to the
Magistrate’s Court.”
85. Section 24 gives the burden of proof. It is as follows:-
“24. Burden of proof.—In any proceeding relating to
proceeds of crime under this Act,—
(a) in the case of a person charged with the offence of
money-laundering under section 3, the
Authority or Court shall, unless the contrary is
proved, presume that such proceeds of crime are
involved in money-laundering; and
(b) in the case of any other person the Authority or
Court, may presume that such proceeds of
crime are involved in money-laundering.]”
86. Section 43 provides about Special Courts to try offences under
the Act. Section 44 relates to the offences triable by the Special Court.
Section 45 provides that the offences shall be cognizable and non bailable.
87. Chapter 9 deals with authorities under the Act. Section 50
gives the powers of the authorities to issue summons, for production of
documents and to give evidence.
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88. Section 62 which comes under Chapter 10 relates to
miscellaneous provisions and gives the punishment of vexatious search.
89. Section 65 is as follows:-
“65. Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to
apply.—The provisions of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) shall apply, in so far
as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act, to arrest, search and seizure, attachment,
confiscation investigation, prosecution and all
other proceedings under this Act.”
90. Section 71 states that the Act shall have a overriding effect. It
is as follows:-
“71. Act to have overriding effect.—The
provisions of this Act shall have effect
notwithstanding anything inconsistent
therewith contained in any other law for the
time being in force.”
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91. In the schedule part -A relates to offences under the Indian
Penal Code. Thereafter, various other enactments are also given and where
there is information about commission of such offence and there is further
information about proceeds of crime consequent to commission of such
offences or allegation of commission of such offences, a right accrues under
this particular Act to launch an independent enquiry relating to the proceeds
of crime and such enquiry can also determine where it had been secreted.
The aim is to confiscate such proceeds of crime with the hope that atleast
some portion of the same could be returned back to the victims or
complainants.
92. Rules had also been framed. I would only refer to PMLA
(Restoration of Property Rules 2016) which had been brought into effect on
26.09.2016. It defines the word claimants as follows:-
“2(b) "claimant" means a person who has
acted in good faith and has suffered a quantifiable
loss as a result of the offense of Money-laundering
despite having taken all reasonable precautions,
and is not involved in the offense of money-
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laundering;”
93. A perusal of the aforementioned definition shows that a
claimant could be a person, who had suffered a quantifiable loss, as a result
of the offence of money laundering, despite having taken all reasonable
precautions, and is not involved in the offence of money laundering. In
effect, means a victim of crime, who had suffered monetary loss.
94. This particular Rule gives a small window to such person, a
victim or claimant to seek return of the money if it is confiscated by the
respondents. It requires a restoration order to be passed by the Special
Court.
95. I must point out with much anguish that though arguments had
been advanced holding that the detenue a sitting Minister is the victim, not
one word was even whispered was about the plight of the actual victims in
what has to be called the predicate offences. A predicate offence is the basis
on which the respondents registered the ECIR.
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96. In the instant case, the predicate offence was that the detenue
or persons working under him either directly or indirectly, with his
knowledge or without his knowledge or in some other manner had received
bribe amounts from various individuals holding out a promise that they
would be given employment in the Transport Department. The detenue was
incidentally the Minister for Transport in the State Government.
97. As seen from the facts as reduced by the Hon'ble Supreme
Court, the defacto complainant himself, who complained that he had given
such money and suffered personal loss subsequently turned around and
complained against the final report filed and had sought a de nova
investigation.
98. Let me not go back to the observations of the Hon'ble Supreme
Court but a reading of the same would be extremely revealing. This Court
has not forgotten their words. Even if the victims therein are hidden from
this proceeding and even if it is taken that they had willingly parted with
bribe money to those whom are now categorised as accused in the various
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Calendar Cases, still, it should not be forgotten that such money would have
been given by selling the bangles of the lady in the house, by mortgaging
the house itself, by putting aside necessary expenses for the family and by
borrowing money and falling into a debt trap. They suffered loss with the
hope that a job would be given. Eventhough the legality of their act is not
examined, their shadow should also be taken into consideration by this
Court while examining the various arguments advanced on behalf of the
petitioner herein. It should be first stated that as the pre-condition for
registration of an ECIR under the PMLA 2002, there must be a predicate
offence and it should be one where there are proceeds of crime.
99. In the instant case, the calendar cases are predicate offences.
There are allegations of huge amounts being paid whether the amount were
received or were not received or received and laundered requires further
examination.
100. There is one further argument which had been advanced and I
would like to clear the air about that and then go forward with the actual
arguments advanced by both the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner
and by the learned Solicitor General. This is with respect to the nature of
investigation / enquiry under the Act. It had been contended on behalf of
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the petitioner that enquiry in this Act cannot be termed as an investigation
as is stated under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
101. However, the word “investigation” has been defined in the Act
and had also been used in several places in the Act.
102. It is for that purpose, that I would state that the object of the
Act is two fold. One is to determine the trail of the tainted amount and to
confiscate it and if possible return it back to the victim. The other is to
punish the accused for the offence of money laundering. Then Sections 3
and 4 comes into play. That is a penal procedure.
103. While determining the flow of money, there are Authorities
established under the Act and there is an Appellate Tribunal. The matter
moves forward through that process.
104. Simultaneously, to examine whether an offence is made out
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under Section 3, as punishable under Section 4, an independent line of
enquiry or investigation is required.
105. Thus, though both are independent procedures one overlaps the
other. The end object is different. One results ultimately in recovering the
tainted money and if possible in returning it to the lawful claimants, the
other results in imposing of punishment of maximum of 7 years as provided
under the Act. This distinction must be kept in mind.
106. The provisions of the Act as stated above, also provides for
recording of a statement under Section 50 of the Act. It had been argued
that this particular statement is admissible in a Court of law. It is recorded
prior to the actual arrest of the individual or a person. Subsequent to arrest,
the provision under Section 50 does not come into play but that can never
imply that the respondents are precluded from recording statements or
continuing with enquiry / investigation.
107. Let me state an alternate phrase forensic accounting to
enquiry/ investigation which would indicate a combination of accounting
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and investigating techniques used to discover financial crimes.
108. This forensic accounting or enquiry/investigation is required
because the tainted money had been laundering into various transactions
and has finally disappeared.
109. To take the instant case let me take the case of Devasagayam.
He complained that he had given a sum of Rs.2,40,000/- with the hope that
he would be given a job. The legality of that is to be discussed elsewhere.
To determine where this sum of Rs.2,40,000/- actually went and whether it
had been brought into the main stream as legal money is the purpose of this
particular Act and if it is found that the money had been laundered, and put
through various transactions then, if it is to be recovered, it could be
returned back and restored to Devasagayam if he is willing to take it. As a
fact he had however turned himself to the side of the accused therein. For
that particular act of money laundering, by converting the money, an
independent prosecution is also permissible under the Act leading to
punishment of the persons involved in such money laundering.
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110. Thus, these two aspects will have to be kept in mind before
entering into a discussion, on the facts of this particular Habeas Corpus
Petition.
111. Let me just fall back to one particular Judgement shall would
touch on the concept of restoration of money. That is a Judgment of the
House of Lords, R Vs May reported in [2005 EWCA Crime 97]
equivalent to [2008] UKHL 28.
112. Let me not enter into a discussion on that particular Judgment
but cite it to give a guideline as to the restoration concept. The accused
therein, 16 in number, were charged with evasion of customs and vat duty.
The amount involved was finally recovered. A restoration order was passed
that each one of them should pay back the proceeds of the Crime.
113. An argument was advanced that this would enrich the State 16
times over as the same amount is to be paid by each one of them. This
argument was rejected by the House of Lords and the concept was that each
one of them had participated equally in the crime and therefore, was
responsible when an order of confiscation and restoration is passed to pay
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back the entire amount by each of them.
114. This concept provides a guideline as to the seriousness with
which restoration and confiscation is taken.
115. Let me now address the points of difference between the two
learned Judges.
(i) Whether the Enforcement Directorate has the power to seek
custody of a person arrested?
116. Mr.Kapil Sibal, the learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf
of the petitioner had placed reliance on a Judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme
Court in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary Vs. Union of India, [2022 SCC
Online 929] which had been examined in detailed. This had on PMLA
2002.
117. It is the contention of the learned Senior Counsel that to take
custody, the respondents should be first categorised as Police Officers. It is
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asserted that they are not Police Officers.
118. This assertion is correct.
119. The respondents are not Police Officials. They have never been
categorised as Police Officials anywhere in the Act.
120. They need not be. The authorities under the Act to recaptulate,
had been given various nomenclatures. They have been stated to be
Director, Additional Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director of the
Enforcement Directorate. This assertion of the learned Senior Counsel is
also not denied or disputed by the respondents.
121. In this case, an application was filed by the respondent seeking
custody of the detenue. On the date when such application was filed, the
nomenclature of the detenue had metamorphorsised to an accused
consequent to an order of remand being passed by the learned Principal
Sessions Judge at Chennai. The learned Principal Sessions Judge had
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granted such custody.
122. Let me also extract Sections 167(1) and also (2) of the Code of
Criminal Procedure.
“(1) Whenever any person is arrested and
detained in custody and it appears that the
investigation cannot be completed within the
period of twenty- four hours fixed by section 57,
and there are grounds for believing that the
accusation or information is well- founded, the
officer in charge of the police station or the police
officer making the investigation, if he is not below
the rank of sub- inspector, shall forthwith transmit
to the nearest Judicial Magistrate a copy of the
entries in the diary hereinafter prescribed relating
to the case, and shall at the same time forward the
accused to such Magistrate.
(2) The Magistrate to whom an accused
person is forwarded under this section may,
whether he has or has not jurisdiction to try the
case, from time to time, authorise the detention of
the accused in such custody as such Magistrate
thinks fit, for a term not exceeding fifteen days in
the whole; and if he has no jurisdiction to try the
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case or commit it for trial, and considers further
detention unnecessary, he may order the accused
to be forwarded to a Magistrate having such
jurisdiction: Provided that-
.............
123. In the instant case, the fact remains that the detenue herein had
been arrested by the respondents. While examining whether the
respondents have a right to seek custody or whether such right is vested or
whether such right is vested owing to the nature of the official duties which
the respondent discharge, it must be kept in mind that the person has been
arrested and is under judicial custody. The legality of the remand will be
examined independent of this particular issue.
124. Section 167(1) as stated provides that when any person is
arrested and detained in custody, which would mean that the person so
arrested had not been released on bail by the Police Official himself but
detained in custody, if investigation had not been completed within a period
of 24 hours. then, he should be produced before the jurisdictional
Magistrate within a period of 24 hours. The Police Officials, who had so
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arrested the accused must have grounds to believe that the persons so
arrested is required for further examination.
125. Sub-clause (2) of Section 167 then provides that the said
Magistrate to whom this particular accused is produced on being arrested,
shall authorise the detention of the accused in such custody as the
Magistrate deems fit. This detention shall be only for 15 days from the date
of the first initial remand by the Magistrate. It could be less, but it cannot be
more.
126. The term 'such custody' since it is to be exercised within a
period of 15 days has been alternatively stated to be just judicial custody but
custody to the Officers, who so produce the accused. Conditions are
imposed.
127. The Legislature, in none of the enactments have stated about
police custody. It could be stated in the Rules like the Police Stating
Orders. It could be there among the guidelines given to the Police Officials,
who take the accused on custody. But in the Principal enactment,
Legislature had never thought it would be advisable to specifically provide
'Police Custody' as a provision of law.
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128. The custody of a particular individual can be granted to the
police for further investigation. It is only an ancillary provision in the Rules
or in the Police Standing Orders that such police custody is actually
indicated and responsibility is thrust on the police official to whom such
custody is granted. This is because the fundamental principle on which this
particular provision will have to be tested is on the basis of the Constitution
which guarantees life and liberty to every individual which should not be
restricted except by due process of law.
129. This provision has been read by the learned Senior Counsel
Mr.Kabil Sibal in conjunction the definition of a police officer as given in
the Code of Criminal Procedure under Section 2(o) which relates to an
Officer in Charge of a police station. Both these provisions, namely Section
2(o) and Section 167 are to be read in conjunction with each other and it is
the contention of the learned Senior Counsel that unless the respondents are
police officers, they cannot, in their wildest dream contemplate grant of an
order of custody of an accused to them.
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130. Let me state the argument put forth by the learned Solicitor
General on this aspect.
131. It is the contention of the learned Solicitor General that when a
person is arrested under the PMLA 2002 under Section 19 of the said Act,
there is an in built provision which necessitates production of the said
person before a competent Court within a period of 24 hours. It is stated
that the power to further examine is in built with the right vest with the
respondents.
132. The learned Solicitor General wondered if Section 167 were to
be read not applicable in entirety and if a person is arrested and there is an
obligation to produce him before the Magistrate within a period of 24 hours
and if the offence under the PMLA 2002 is non bailable and therefore, the
person arrested can not be let out on bail, the only option is to remand him
to judicial custody. When that is permissible, it is contended that custody is
required to conduct further investigation or enquiry.
133. To examine this line of argument further, Section 19 of the Act
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will have to be looked into. Section 19 of the PMLA 2002 gives the power
to arrest. It had been extracted above. It is extracted again:-
“19. Power to arrest.—
(1) If the Director, Deputy Director,
Assistant Director, or any other officer
authorised in this behalf by the Central
Government by general or special order, has on
the basis of material in his possession reason to
believe (the reason for such belief to be recorded
in writing) that any person has been guilty of an
offence punishable under this Act, he may arrest
such person and shall, as soon as may be, inform
him of the grounds for such arrest.
(2) The Director, Deputy Director,
Assistant Director or any other officer shall,
immediately after arrest of such person under
sub-section (1), forward a copy of the order,
along with the material in his possession, referred
to in that sub-section, to the Adjudicating
Authority, in a sealed envelope, in the manner, as
may be prescribed and such Adjudicating
Authority shall keep such order and material for
such period, as may be prescribed.
(3) Every person arrested under sub-
section (1) shall within twenty-four hours, be
taken to a Judicial Magistrate or a Metropolitan
Magistrate, as the case may be, having
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jurisdiction: Provided that the period of twenty-
four hours shall exclude the time necessary for
the journey from the place of arrest to the
Magistrate’s Court.”
134. The learned Senior Counsel Mr.Kabil Sibal read this particular
provision and argued that a statement under Section 50 had already been
recorded. Search had already been conducted. Materials had already been
collected. On the basis of those materials, an arrest can be done only when
those materials give a reason for the respondents to believe that the person
is guilty of the offences.
135. This would impliedly mean that the precondition of arrest is
availability of sufficient materials. It is a restraint and such restraint is
legalised by the word 'arrest' and the person is handed over to judicial
custody. The detention alone is regularised but materials had already been
gathered and these materials have given a reason to believe that the person
is guilty. It is therefore contented that since all the materials have been
collected, no further enquiry is required into the offence and therefore,
custody cannot be granted or cannot be sought as a matter of right and even
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if sought should be rejected because the respondents are not police officials.
136. There is one small fallacy in the said argument.
137. Chapter V of the Act deals with summons, searches and
seizures etc., which expands the scope of those three words to any logical
conclusion. Section 16 first provides the power of survey. It provides the
authority on the basis of existing materials, and it can be safely stated that
the existing material should be the materials gathered from the predicate
offence, has reason to believe that an offence under Section 3 had been
committed, then the respondents in this case, or the authority can enter into
any place within the area assigning to him and require any person to provide
facilities to inspect records, to provide facilities to verify proceeds of crime
or any transaction and to furnish such information as is required. This is a
survey consequent to information already in possession of the respondents.
138. After this survey is done, Section 16 itself provides that a copy
of the same of whatever is recovered or whatever is observed during the
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pre-survey should be forwarded to the Adjudicating Authority in a sealed
envelope.
139. The authority who conducts the survey also has the right to
make an inventory for proper verification by him and to record the
statement for any person present in the place. This provides for survey and
survey alone and not for seizure of materials. It is the verification of
whatever records are found in the place where such survey is conducted.
140. The next provision under Section 17 relates to search and
seizure. This provides that when there are reasons to believe on the basis of
information that any person has committed money laundering or was in
possession of proceeds of crime, then the person authorised, in contrast to
the power of survey where it is only stated that the authority can conduct
survey, can also search and seize, this person authorised is the Director or
any officer authorised by him not below the rank of Deputy Director.
141. The nature of the officials therefore changes. The object of the
entering into the place is also different. The first one is to conduct survey
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which is a preliminary examination by an authority. Section 17 relates to
search and seizure by a Director or anybody authorised by him. This
Director or any person can enter, on the basis of information, while
conducting search and seizure, any building and he can also break open the
lock of any door of any box, of any locker, of any safe, of any almirah or
any other receptacle wherein he believes certain materials have been
secluded. Not only can he break open the lock, he can also seize any record
or property which is fundamental to such search. He then has to make a
note of the inventory, and examine any person and as a matter of fact, seize
those properties. This power is given under Section 17 of the Act. This
process of seizure and the result of such seizure shall be communicated to
the Adjudicating Authority in a sealed envelope.
142. The next provision under the said chapter is search of persons.
This is by an authority under the Act.
143. After these provisions, Section 19 comes in to play. Section 19
again does not state about authority but specifically mentions the Director, a
Deputy Director and Assistant Director or any other Officer authorised
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specifically in this regard. If such officer has reasons to believe and he must
record those reasons in writing that any person is guilty of an offence
punishable under the Act, he may arrest such person. The distinction lies in
that he must have formed an opinion that the person involved is guilty of an
offence punishable under the Act. Once the word punishment comes in then
it has to be only by a penal procedure. That penal procedure has to be only
under Sections 3 and 4 of the Act. Once we relate this particular arrest to
Sections 3 and 4, then this person, who is so arrested will have to
subjudicate himself to the laws of trial of an offence punishable and such
trial should be under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
144. It has been very specifically stated that the procedure before the
Special Court for conducting trial will be as given under the Code of
Criminal Procedure.
145. Once it is stated that the Code of Criminal Procedure applies,
then these persons, namely, the Director, the Deputy Director, the Assistant
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Director, who are not police officials can take advantage of every provision
under the Code of Criminal Procedure to obtain, in their opinion a logical
conclusion to the trial process. If that step requires further investigation
then they have every right to seek custody.
146. Enquiry would be with respect to the ultimate finding about the
proceeds of crime and its confiscation and restoration. Investigation leads to
punishment of an offence. The terms can be used independently. They can
be used alternatively. In every place in the Act, the word investigation
alone is used. When once the procedures under the provisions under the
Criminal Procedure Code are applicable, then the provisions relating to all
aspects of investigation would become applicable. These would be become
applicable so long as they are not inconsistent of this Act. If they are in
consistent, then, the provisions of this Act alone would apply.
147. This observation is placed by me on record since an argument
had also been advanced relating to the applicability or non applicability of
Section 41-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure qua Section 19 of PMLA
2002 relating to the procedure to be adopted during and after the course of
arrest.
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148. Let me now go to the Judgments under this particular
provision.
149. The Judgment which has been relied on by the learned Senior
Counsel on behalf of the petitioner is Vijay Madanlal Choudhary Vs.
Union of India, [2022 SCC Online 929].
150. A batch of Petitions had been filed before the Hon'ble Supreme
Court questioning the virus of the Act.
151. It should be kept in mind that any statement recorded under
Section 50 of PMLA 2002 is admissible only because it is recorded prior to
the arrest of the person.
152. It had been contended before the Hon'ble Supreme Court the
Officials of the Enforcement Directorate are Police Officials and therefore,
if they were to record a statement under Section 50 of the Act, such
statement should be considered to be inadmissible.
153. The Hon'ble Supreme Court after a detailed discussion held
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that the officials of the Enforcement Directorate are not police officials.
They had therefore stated that a statement referred under Section 50 of the
Act is admissible. This statement is recorded prior to arrest but when such
person is under custody of the officials of the Enforcement Directorate.
154. It had been stated by the Hon'ble Supreme Court that any
material collected after survey and after search and seizure and already
available can be used by the respondent / Enforcement Directorate to
bolster their complaint relating to the offence under the money laundering
Act. This would indicate that these materials so collected can also form an
additional part of the materials filed when preferring a complaint before the
competent Court. If they were to be part of the complaint, then each and
every material so collected, should be independently admissible in evidence.
The analysis of such evidence is a different issue which is a matter of trial
process but they could form part of the complaint and therefore, the said
statements can be taken into consideration. This has to be contradicted with
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any statement recorded by the respondents after the arrest of the individual.
Such statement cannot be made admissible even if they are not police
officials since the person is under arrest.
155. It is for that purpose that the word 'bolster' referred supra
assumes significance. It also envisages the usage of the words enquiry and
investigation alternatively.
156. One enquiry / investigation is with respect to the recovery of
money, attachment and adjudication by the Appellate Authority with final
object to return back the money to the victim. The other aspect is respect to
the punishment for the offence of money laundering. This aspect of trial for
the offence of money laundering is within the jurisdiction of the Special
Court. Confiscation of the property is within the jurisdiction of the
Appellate Authority which is independently constituted. The Special Judge
may examine an application for actual restoration of the property by the
defacto complainant or claimant.
157. There is a slight distinction in the application. It has to be
made also clear that money laundering is an independent offence in itself.
But it requires a predicate case before a ECIR is registered by the
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respondents.
158. Let me now state the rationale of the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
159. In 2022 SCC OnLine SC 929, Vijay Madanlal Choudhary vs.
Union Of India, the Hon'ble Supreme Court had held as follows:
“246. We would now elaborate upon the meaning of
“investigation” in Clause (na) of Section 2(1). It includes all
proceedings under the Act conducted by the Director or an
authority authorised by the Central Government under this Act
for collection of evidence. The expression “all the proceedings
under this Act” unquestionably refers to the action of
attachment, adjudication and confiscation, as well as actions
undertaken by the designated authorities mentioned in Chapter
VIII of the Act, under Chapter V of the Act, and for facilitating
the adjudication by the Adjudicating Authority referred to in
Chapter III to adjudicate the matters in issue, including until
the filing of the complaint by the authority authorised in that
behalf before the Special Courts constituted under Chapter VII
of the Act. The expression “proceedings”, therefore, need not
be given a narrow meaning only to limit it to proceedings
before the Court or before the Adjudicating Authority as is
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contended but must be understood contextually. This is
reinforced from the scheme of the Act as it recognises that the
statement recorded by the Director in the course of inquiry, to
be deemed to be judicial proceedings in terms of Section 50(4)
of the 2002 Act. Needless to underscore that the authorities
referred to in Section 48 of the Act are distinct from the
Adjudicating Authority referred to in Section 6 of the 2002 Act.
The Adjudicating Authority referred to in Section 6 is entrusted
with the task of adjudicating the matters in issue for
confirmation of the provisional attachment order issued under
Section 5 of the 2002 Act, passed by the Authority referred to in
Section 48 of the Act. The confirmation of provisional
attachment order is done by the Adjudicating Authority under
Section 8 of the 2002 Act, and if confirmed, the property in
question is ordered to be confiscated and then it would vest in
the Central Government as per Section 9 of the 2002 Act
subject to the outcome of the trial of the offence under the 2002
Act (i.e., Section 3 of offence of money-laundering punishable
under Section 4). Suffice it to observe that the expression
“proceedings” must be given expansive meaning to include
actions of the authorities (i.e., Section 48) and of the
Adjudicating Authority (i.e., Section 6), including before the
Special Court (i.e., Section 43). 247. The task of the Director or
an authority authorised by the Central Government under the
2002 Act for the collection of evidence is the intrinsic process
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of adjudication proceedings. In that, the evidence so collected
by the authorities is placed before the Adjudicating Authority
for determination of the issue as to whether the provisional
attachment order issued under Section 5 deserves to be
confirmed and to direct confiscation of the property in
question. The expression “investigation”, therefore, must be
regarded as interchangeable with the function of “inquiry” to
be undertaken by the authorities for submitting such evidence
before the Adjudicating Authority.
........
248. In other words, merely because the expression used
is “investigation” — which is similar to the one noted in
Section 2(h) of the 1973 Code, it does not limit itself to matter
of investigation concerning the offence under the Act and
Section 3 in particular. It is a different matter that the material
collected during the inquiry by the authorities is utilised to
bolster the allegation in the complaint to be filed against the
person from whom the property has been recovered, being the
proceeds of crime. Further, the expression “investigation” used
in the 2002 Act is interchangeable with the function of
“inquiry” to be undertaken by the Authorities under the Act,
including collection of evidence for being presented to the
Adjudicating Authority for its consideration for confirmation of
provisional attachment order. We need to keep in mind that the
expanse of the provisions of the 2002 Act is of prevention of
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money-laundering, attachment of proceeds of crime,
adjudication and confiscation thereof, including vesting of it in
the Central Government and also setting up of agency and
mechanism for coordinating measures for combating money-
laundering.
..........
324. This argument clearly overlooks the overall scheme of the
2002 Act. As noticed earlier, it is a comprehensive legislation, not
limited to provide for prosecution of person involved in the
offence of money-laundering, but mainly intended to prevent
money-laundering activity and confiscate the proceeds of crime
involved in money-laundering. It also provides for prosecuting the
person involved in such activity constituting offence of money-
laundering. In other words, this legislation is an amalgam of
different facets including setting up of agencies and mechanisms
for coordinating measures for combating money-laundering.
Chapter III is a provision to effectuate these purposes and
objectives by attachment, adjudication and confiscation. The
adjudication is done by the Adjudicating Authority to confirm the
order of provisional attachment in respect of proceeds of crime
involved in money-laundering. For accomplishing that objective,
the authorities appointed under Chapter VIII have been
authorised to make inquiry into all matters by way of survey,
searches and seizures of records and property. These provisions
in no way invest power in the Authorities referred to in Chapter
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VIII of the 2002 Act to maintain law and order or for that matter,
purely investigating into a criminal offence. The inquiry preceding
filing of the complaint by the authorities under the 2002 Act, may
have the semblance of an investigation conducted by them.
However, it is essentially an inquiry to collect evidence to
facilitate the Adjudicating Authority to decide on the confirmation
of provisional attachment order, including to pass order of
confiscation, as a result of which, the proceeds of crime would
vest in the Central Government in terms of Section 9 of the 2002
Act. In other words, the role of the Authorities appointed under
Chapter VIII of the 2002 Act is such that they are tasked with
dual role of conducting inquiry and collect evidence to facilitate
adjudication proceedings before the Adjudicating Authority in
exercise of powers conferred upon them under Chapters III and
V of the 2002 Act and also to use the same materials to bolster
the allegation against the person concerned by way of a formal
complaint to be filed for offence of money-laundering under the
2002 Act before the Special Court, if the fact situation so
warrant. It is not as if after every inquiry prosecution is launched
against all persons found to be involved in the commission of
offence of money-laundering. It is also not unusual to provide for
arrest of a person during such inquiry before filing of a
complaint for indulging in alleged criminal activity. The
respondent has rightly adverted to somewhat similar provisions in
other legislations, such as Section 35 of FERA and Section 102 of
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Customs Act including the decisions of this Court upholding such
power of arrest at the inquiry stage bestowed in the Authorities in
the respective legislations. In Romesh Chandra Mehta Vs. State of
West Bengal, (1969) 2 SCR 461, the Constitution Bench of this
Court enunciated that Section 104 of the Customs Act confers
power to arrest upon the Custom Officer if he has reason to
believe that any person in India or within the Indian Customs
waters has been guilty of an offence punishable under Section 135
of that Act. Again, in the case of Union of India Vs. Padam Narain
Aggarwal, (2008) 13 SCC 305 while dealing with the provisions
of the Customs Act, it noted that the term “arrest” has neither
been defined in the 1973 Code nor in the Penal Code, 1860 nor in
any other enactment dealing with offences. This word has been
derived from the French word “arrater” meaning “to stop or
stay”. It signifies a restraint of a person. It is, thus, obliging the
person to be obedient to law. Further, arrest may be defined as
“the execution of the command of a court of law or of a duly
authorised officer”. Even, this decision recognises the power of
the authorised officer to cause arrest during the inquiry to be
conducted under the concerned legislations. While adverting to
the safeguards provided under that legislation before effecting
such arrest, the Court noted as follows:
“Safeguards against abuse of power
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36. From the above discussion, it is amply clear that power to
arrest a person by a Customs Officer is statutory in character
and cannot be interfered with. Such power of arrest can be
exercised only in those cases where the Customs Officer has
“reason to believe” that a person has been guilty of an offence
punishable under Sections 132, 133, 135, 135-A or 136 of the
Act. Thus, the power must be exercised on objective facts of
commission of an offence enumerated and the Customs Officer
has reason to believe that a person sought to be arrested has
been guilty of commission of such offence. The power to arrest
thus is circumscribed by objective considerations and cannot be
exercised on whims, caprice or fancy of the officer.
37. The section 534 also obliges the Customs Officer to inform the
person arrested of the grounds of arrest as soon as may be. The
law requires such person to be produced before a Magistrate
without unnecessary delay.
38. The law thus, on the one hand, allows a Customs Officer to
exercise power to arrest a person who has committed certain
offences, and on the other hand, takes due care to ensure
individual freedom and liberty by laying down norms and
providing safeguards so that the power of arrest is not abused or
misused by the authorities. ….”
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........
435. We are conscious of the fact that the expression used in
Section 2(1)(na) of the 2002 Act is “investigation”, but there is
obvious distinction in the expression “investigation” occurring in
the 1973 Code. Under Section 2(h) of the 1973 Code, the
investigation is done by a “police officer” or by any person
(other than a Magistrate) who is authorised by a Magistrate
thereby to collect the evidence regarding the crime in question.
Whereas, the investigation under Section 2(1)(na) of the 2002
Act is conducted by the Director or by an authority authorised
by the Central Government under the 2002 Act for the collection
of evidence for the purpose of proceeding under this Act.
Obviously, this investigation is in the nature of inquiry to initiate
action against the proceeds of crime and prevent activity of
money-laundering. In the process of such investigation, the
Director or the authority authorised by the Central Government
referred to in Section 48 of the 2002 Act is empowered to resort
to attachment of the proceeds of crime and for that purpose,
also to do search and seizure and to arrest the person involved
in the offence of money-laundering. While doing so, the
prescribed authority (Director, Additional Director, Joint
Director, Deputy Director or Assistant Director) alone has been
empowered to summon any person for recording his statement
and production of documents as may be necessary by virtue of
Section 50 of the 2002 Act. Sensu stricto, at this stage (of issuing
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summon), it is not an investigation for initiating prosecution in
respect of crime of money-laundering as such. That is only an
incidental matter and may be the consequence of existence of
proceeds of crime and identification of persons involved in
money-laundering thereof. The legislative scheme makes it
amply clear that the authority authorised under this Act is not a
police officer as such. This becomes amply clear from the speech
of the then Finance Minister delivered in 2005, which reads thus:
“Sir, the Money-Laundering Act was passed by this
House in the year 2002, and number of steps have to be
taken to implement it. Sir, two kinds of steps were
required. One was to appoint an authority who will
gather intelligence and information, and the other was
an authority to investigate and prosecute. This Act was
made to implement the political declaration adopted by
the Special Session of the UN General Assembly in 1999.
Section 1(3) of the Act stipulates that the Act will come
into force on such date as the Central Government may
by notification appoint. While we were examining the
question of notifying the Act, I found that there was
certain lacunae in the Act. I regret to say that not enough
homework had been done in the definitions, and in the
division of responsibility and authority. So, in
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consultation with the Ministry of Law, we came to the
conclusion that these lacunae had to be removed.
Broadly, the reasons for the amendment are the
following.
Under the existing provisions in Section 45 of the Act,
every offence is cognizable. If an offence is cognizable,
then any police officer in India can arrest an offender
without warrant. At the same time, under Section 19 of
the Act, only a Director or a Deputy Director or an
Assistant Director or any other officer authorised, may
arrest an offender. Clearly, there was a conflict between
these two provisions. Under Section 45(1)(b) of the Act,
the Special Court shall not take cognizance of any
offence punishable under Section 4 except upon a
complaint made in writing by the Director or any other
officer authorised by the Central Government. So, what
would happen to an arrest made by any police officer in
the case of a cognizable offence? Which is the court that
will try the offence? Clearly, there were inconsistencies
in these provisions.
They have now been removed. We have now
enabled only the Director or an officer authorised by
him to investigate offences. Of course, we would, by
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rule, set up a threshold; and, below that threshold, we
would allow State police officers also to take action.
The second anomaly that we found was that the
expression “investigation officer” and the word
“investigation” occur in a number of sections but they
were not defined in the Act. Consequently, one has to
go to the definition in the Criminal Procedure Code
and that Code provides only “investigation by a police
officer or by an officer authorised by a magistrate”. So,
clearly, there was a lacuna in not enabling the Director
or the Assistant Director under this Act to investigate
offences. That has been cured now.
….
What we are doing is, we are inserting a new Section,
2(n)(a) defining the term, ‘investigation’; making an
amendment to Sections 28, 29 and 30, dealing with
tribunals; amending Sections 44 and 45 of the Act to
make the offence non-cognisable so that only the
Director could take action; and also making
consequential changes in Section 73. I request hon.
Members to kindly approve of these amendments so that
the Act could be amended quickly and we could bring it
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into force.”
436. From this speech, it is more than clear that the intention of
the Parliament was to empower the prescribed Authority under
Section 48 including the class of officers appointed for the
purposes of this Act to investigate the matters falling within the
purview of the Act and in the manner specified in that regard. By
inserting Section 45(1A) in the 2002 Act vide amendment Act 20
of 2005, was essentially to restrict and explicitly disable the
police officer from taking cognizance of the offence of money-
laundering much less investigating the same. It is a provision to
restate that only the Authority (Section 48) under this Act is
competent to do investigation in respect of matters specified
under the 2002 Act and none else. This provision rules out
coextensive power to local police as well as the authority
authorised. As aforementioned, the officer specifically authorised
is also expected to confine the inquiry/investigation only in
respect of matters under this Act and in the manner specified
therein.
437. The purposes and objects of the 2002 Act for which it has
been enacted, is not limited to punishment for offence of money-
laundering, but also to provide measures for prevention of
money-laundering. It is also to provide for attachment of
proceeds of crime, which are likely to be concealed, transferred
or dealt with in any manner which may result in frustrating any
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proceeding relating to confiscation of such proceeds under the
2002 Act. This Act is also to compel the banking companies,
financial institutions and intermediaries to maintain records of
the transactions, to furnish information of such transactions
within the prescribed time in terms of Chapter IV of the 2002 Act.
444. The petitioners, however, have pressed into service
exposition of this Court in the recent decision in Tofan Singh691,
which had occasion to deal with the provisions of the NDPS Act
wherein the Court held that the designated officer under that Act
must be regarded as a police officer. The Court opined that the
statement made before him would be violative of protection
guaranteed under Article 20(3) of the Constitution. This decision
has been rightly distinguished by the learned Additional Solicitor
General on the argument that the conclusion reached in that
judgment is on the basis of the legislative scheme of the NDPS
Act, which permitted that interpretation. However, it is not
possible to reach at the same conclusion in respect of the 2002
Act for more than one reason. In this decision, the Court first
noted that the Act (NDPS Act) under consideration was a penal
statute. In the case of 2002 Act, however, such a view is not
possible. The second aspect which we have repeatedly adverted
to, is the special purposes and objects behind the enactment of the
2002 Act. As per the provisions of the NDPS Act, it permitted both
a regular police officer as well as a designated officer, who is not
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a defined police officer, to investigate the offence under that Act.
This has resulted in discrimination. Such a situation does not
emerge from the provisions of the 2002 Act. The 2002 Act, on the
other hand, authorises only the authorities referred to in Section
48 to investigate/inquire into the matters under the Act in the
manner prescribed therein. The provision inserted in 2005 as
Section 45(1A) is not to empower the regular police officers to
take cognizance of the offence. On the other hand, it is a
provision to declare that the regular police officer is not
competent to take cognizance of offence of money-laundering, as
it can be investigated only by the authorities referred to in
Section 48 of the 2002 Act. The third aspect which had weighed
with the Court in Tofan Singh692 is that the police officer
investigating an offence under the NDPS Act, the provisions of
Sections 161 to 164 of the 1973 Code as also Section 25 of the
Evidence Act, would come into play making the statement made
before them by the accused as inadmissible. Whereas, the
investigation into the same offence was to be done by the
designated officer under the NDPS Act, the safeguards contained
in Sections 161 to 164 of the 1973 Code and Section 25 of the
Evidence Act, will have no application and the statement made
before them would be inadmissible in evidence. This had resulted
in discrimination. No such situation emerges from the provisions
of the 2002 Act. Whereas, the 2002 Act clearly authorises only the
authorities under the 2002 Act referred to in Section 48 to step in
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and summon the person when occasion arises and proceed to
record the statement and take relevant documents on record. For
that, express provision has been made authorising them to do so
and by a legal fiction, deemed it to be a statement recorded in a
judicial proceeding by virtue of Section 50(4) of the 2002 Act. A
regular police officer will neither be in a position to take
cognizance of the offence of money-laundering, much less be
permitted to record the statement which is to be made part of the
proceeding before the Adjudicating Authority under the 2002 Act
for confirmation of the provisional attachment order and
confiscation of the proceeds of crime for eventual vesting in the
Central Government. That may entail in civil consequences. It is a
different matter that some material or evidence is made part of
the complaint if required to be filed against the person involved
in the process or activity connected with money-laundering so as
to prosecute him for offence punishable under Section 3 of the
2002 Act. The next point which has been reckoned by this Court
in the said decision is that in the provisions of NDPS Act, upon
culmination of investigation of crime by a designated officer
under that Act (other than a Police Officer), he proceeds to file a
complaint; but has no authority to further investigate the offence,
if required. Whereas, if the same offence was investigated by a
regular Police Officer after filing of the police report under
Section 173(2) of the 1973 Code, he could still do further
investigation by invoking Section 173(8) of the 1973 Code. This,
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on the face of it, was discriminatory.
........
448. Indeed, in the original 2002 Act, as enacted, the offence of
money-laundering was made cognizable as a result of which
confusion had prevailed in dealing with the said crime when the
legislative intent was only to authorise the Authority under the
2002 Act to deal with such cases. That position stood corrected in
2005, as noticed earlier. The fact that the marginal note of
Section 45 retains marginal note that offences to be cognizable
and non-bailable, however, does not mean that the regular Police
Officer is competent to take cognizance of the offence of money-
laundering. Whereas, that description has been retained for the
limited purpose of understanding that the offence of money-
laundering is cognizable and non-bailable and can be inquired
into and investigated by the Authority under the 2002 Act alone.
.........
456. As per the procedure prescribed by the 1973 Code, the officer
in-charge of a police station is under an obligation to record the
information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence, in
terms of Section 154 of the 1973 Code703. There is no
corresponding provision in the 2002 Act requiring registration of
offence of money-laundering. As noticed earlier, the mechanism
for proceeding against the property being proceeds of crime
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predicated in the 2002 Act is a sui generis procedure. No
comparison can be drawn between the mechanism regarding
prevention, investigation or trial in connection with the scheduled
offence governed by the provisions of the 1973 Code. In the
scheme of 2002 Act upon identification of existence of property
being proceeds of crime, the Authority under this Act is expected
to inquire into relevant aspects in relation to such property and
take measures as may be necessary and specified in the 2002 Act
including to attach the property for being dealt with as per the
provisions of the 2002 Act. We have elaborately adverted to the
procedure to be followed by the authorities for such attachment of
the property being proceeds of crime and the follow-up steps of
confiscation upon confirmation of the provisional attachment
order by the Adjudicating Authority. For facilitating the
Adjudicating Authority to confirm the provisional attachment
order and direct confiscation, the authorities under the 2002 Act
(i.e., Section 48) are expected to make an inquiry and investigate.
Incidentally, when sufficient credible information is gathered by
the authorities during such inquiry/investigation indicative of
involvement of any person in any process or activity connected
with the proceeds of crime, it is open to such authorities to file a
formal complaint before the Special Court naming the
concerned person for offence of money-laundering under
Section 3 of this Act. Considering the scheme of the 2002 Act,
though the offence of money-laundering is otherwise regarded as
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cognizable offence (cognizance whereof can be taken only by the
authorities referred to in Section 48 of this Act and not by
jurisdictional police) and punishable under Section 4 of the 2002
Act, special complaint procedure is prescribed by law. This
procedure overrides the procedure prescribed under 1973 Code to
deal with other offences (other than money-laundering offences) in
the matter of registration of offence and inquiry/investigation
thereof. This special procedure must prevail in terms of Section 71
of the 2002 Act and also keeping in mind Section 65 of the same
Act. In other words, the offence of money-laundering cannot be
registered by the jurisdictional police who is governed by the
regime under Chapter XII of the 1973 Code. The provisions of
Chapter XII of the 1973 Code do not apply in all respects to deal
with information derived relating to commission of money-
laundering offence much less investigation thereof. The
dispensation regarding prevention of money-laundering,
attachment of proceeds of crime and inquiry/investigation of
offence of money-laundering upto filing of the complaint in
respect of offence under Section 3 of the 2002 Act is fully
governed by the provisions of the 2002 Act itself. To wit,
regarding survey, searches, seizures, issuing summons,
recording of statements of concerned persons and calling upon
production of documents, inquiry/investigation, arrest of persons
involved in the offence of money-laundering including bail and
attachment, confiscation and vesting of property being proceeds
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of crime. Indeed, after arrest, the manner of dealing with such
offender involved in offence of money-laundering would then be
governed by the provisions of the 1973 Code - as there are no
inconsistent provisions in the 2002 Act in regard to production
of the arrested person before the jurisdictional Magistrate within
twenty-four hours and also filing of the complaint before the
Special Court within the statutory period prescribed in the 1973
Code for filing of police report, if not released on bail before
expiry thereof.
(Emphasis Supplied).
160. The above extracts would indicate that the expression
investigation is interchangeably used with enquiry which also relates to
collection of evidence for presenting to the adjudicating authority for the
confirmation of provisional attachment. The Hon'ble Supreme Court had
very categorically stated that the materials so collected can be used in the
complaint to bolster the facts stated therein. But after arrest the provisions
of the Code of Criminal Procedure alone is applicable which includes
remand to such custody by the Magistrate.
161. The learned Solicitor General had placed reliance on the
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judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court reported in 1994 3 SCC 440,
Directorate of Enforcement Vs. Deepak Mahajan and another. Reliability
on this judgment had been put to much criticism by Mr. Kapil Sibal,
learned Senior Counsel who stated that the fact therein dealt with Foreign
Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) for short and therefore, could not be
made applicable. It was also pointed out that under FERA, there is a specific
provision for the police officials to investigate. It had however, been stated
by the learned Solicitor General that the word police official is not
specifically given under the PMLA Act, since there is only one offence
involved and such offence is cognizable and non-bailable and the word
police official is used in the ancillary or Special Acts. Since there is also
within the structure of those acts offences which are bailable and that a
station officer who has power to arrest, has also been given such power to
release on bail.
162. These two arguments takes us nowhere.
163. I would rest with the reasoning given in the judgment of the
Hon'ble Supreme Court reported in 2022 SCC OnLine SC 929, Vijay
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Madanlal Choudhary vs. Union Of India, wherein, even though it had
been stated that the respondents are not police officials, the procedure under
the Code of Criminal Procedure alone would apply post arrest which would
mean Section 167 Cr.P.C., would apply, which would mean the respondents
have a right to seek custody on remand. The arrest is on the basis of the
existing material, but if there is further necessity, the respondents have
every right to seek custody.
164. Reference had also been drawn to earlier orders, wherein
custody had been granted by Courts. It had pointed out on behalf of the
petitioner that in those orders, an argument that the respondents were not
police officials had not been advanced and therefore such orders were
passed overlooking this particular Court.
165. It would not lie in the mouth of the petitioner to state that an
order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court affirming custody had been
passed without examining the fundamental aspect as to whether the person
to whom such custody is granted has authority to take custody of the
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individual. Any order is passed only after taking into consideration all
aspects, whether argued or not argued.
166. Even in this judgment, the earlier judgment of the Hon'ble
Supreme Court relating to the detenue / accused had not been cited, but the
Court has every right to look into it. It is to be understood that an overall
view is taken into consideration by the Court when pronouncing any order
directing custody in the hands of the respondents. The respondents have a
right vested in them to take custody. It is to be understood that this aspect
had considered.
167. It had been conclusively held that they are not police officials,
but nowhere it had been stated in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary, referred
supra that they have no right to take custody, if investigation required
custody. The custody is to be granted. It had been positively asserted that
after arrest, the Code of Criminal Procedure alone applies.
168. In the instant case, the facts as stated, would show that the
accused/detenue, as a matter of fact, had taken steps to ensure that the
defacto-complainant filed an application complaining that the investigation
was not proper only because the detenue had been shown as an accused.
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The detenue/accused cannot weep, merely because he has been granted
custody to the respondents. He has a duty to abide with the rule of law. It is
for that reason that I had extracted the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme
Court with relation to this very detenue/ accused and a reading of the facts
and his previous conduct is very revealing.
169. There is a right vested with every accused to face the charges,
to face trial, to question every witness and to establish innocence during the
course of trial. But no accused has a right to frustrate investigation or
enquiry.
170. Even though his medical condition necessitated hospitalization,
even prior to that he had refused to receive the ground of arrest, which is a
statement made by the respondents. His claim of innocence that the grounds
of arrest were not informed cannot be considered by this Court. Such
statement can be stated to be a falsity and therefore, I would reject that
contention.
171. In 2022 SCC OnLine 1465, Dr. Manik Bhattacharya Vs.
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Ramesh Malik and Others, the Hon'ble Supreme Court was presented with
a representation that the petitioner therein was protected from an order of
arrest, but still independently the Enforcement Directorate had taken him to
custody. The Hon'ble Supreme Court had categorically stated that money
laundering is an independent offence and stated as follows:
“7. We cannot hold the arrest of the petitioner by the
Enforcement Directorate illegal as the issue of money-
laundering or there being proceeds of crime had not surfaced
before the Single Judge or the Division Bench of the High Court.
Before us, however, it had been brought to our notice by Mr.
Rohatgi in course of hearing on the question of interim order
passed in the instant special leave petitions, that the petitioner
had been cooperating with investigation by the Enforcement
Directorate and the CBI. While testing the legality of an arrest
made by an agency otherwise empowered to take into custody a
person against whom such agency considers subsistence of prima
facie evidence of money-laundering, we do not think a general
protective order directed at another investigating agency could
have insulated the petitioner from any coercive action in another
proceeding started by a different agency, even if there are factual
similarities vis-a-vis the allegations. Under The Prevention of
Money-Laundering Act, 2002 (“2002 Act”), money-laundering is
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an independent offence and in the event there is any allegation of
the Enforcement Directorate having acted beyond jurisdiction or
their act of arrest is not authorized by law, the petitioner would
be entitled to apply before the appropriate Court of law
independently. But that question could not be examined in a
Special Leave Petition arising from the proceedings in which the
question of Money Laundering were not involved.
172. It had been stated that money laundering is an independent
offence and a general protective order directed against another
Investigating Agency could not insulate the petitioner from any coercive
action in another proceedings started by a different agency. It had been
accepted that the arrest is a step in investigation. When arrest is possible,
then seeking custody for further investigation is permissible.
173. In (2019) 9 SCC 24, P.Chidambaram Vs. Directorate of
Enforcement, the primary issue was with respect to the power to grant
anticipatory bail with respect to an offence of money laundering. The
contention that pre-arrest bail should be granted was rejected with the
following reasons:
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“84. In a case of money-laundering where it involves
many stages of “placement”, “layering i.e. funds moved to other
institutions to conceal origin” and “interrogation i.e. funds used
to acquire various assets”, it requires systematic and analysed
investigation which would be of great advantage. As held in Anil
Sharma [State v. Anil Sharma, (1997) 7 SCC 187 : 1997 SCC
(Cri) 1039] , success in such interrogation would elude if the
accused knows that he is protected by a pre-arrest bail order.
Section 438 CrPC is to be invoked only in exceptional cases
where the case alleged is frivolous or groundless. In the case in
hand, there are allegations of laundering the proceeds of the
crime. The Enforcement Directorate claims to have certain
specific inputs from various sources, including overseas banks.
Letter rogatory is also said to have been issued and some
response have been received by the Department. Having regard
to the nature of allegations and the stage of the investigation, in
our view, the investigating agency has to be given sufficient
freedom in the process of investigation. Though we do not
endorse the approach of the learned Single Judge in extracting
the note produced by the Enforcement Directorate, we do not
find any ground warranting interference with the impugned
order [P. Chidambaram v. CBI, 2019 SCC OnLine Del 9703] .
Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, in our view,
grant of anticipatory bail to the appellant will hamper the
investigation and this is not a fit case for exercise of discretion
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to grant anticipatory bail to the appellant.
85. In the result, the appeal is dismissed. It is for the
appellant to work out his remedy in accordance with law. As and
when the application for regular bail is filed, the same shall be
considered by the learned trial court on its own merits and in
accordance with law without being influenced by any of the
observations made in this judgment and the impugned order [P.
Chidambaram v. CBI, 2019 SCC OnLine Del 9703] of the High
Court.”
174. The duty of the Court during the process of investigation of a
cognizable offence, had also been set out by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in
the following paragraphs:
“61. The investigation of a cognizable offence and the
various stages thereon including the interrogation of the accused
is exclusively reserved for the investigating agency whose
powers are unfettered so long as the investigating officer
exercises his investigating powers well within the provisions of
the law and the legal bounds. In exercise of its inherent power
under Section 482 CrPC, the Court can interfere and issue
appropriate direction only when the Court is convinced that the
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power of the investigating officer is exercised mala fide or where
there is abuse of power and non-compliance of the provisions of
the Code of Criminal Procedure. However, this power of
invoking inherent jurisdiction to issue direction and interfering
with the investigation is exercised only in rare cases where there
is abuse of process or non-compliance of the provisions of the
Criminal Procedure Code.
64. Investigation into crimes is the prerogative of the
police and excepting in rare cases, the judiciary should keep out
all the areas of investigation. In State of Bihar v. P.P. Sharma
[State of Bihar v. P.P. Sharma, 1992 Supp (1) SCC 222 : 1992
SCC (Cri) 192] , it was held that : (SCC p. 258, para 47)
“47. … The investigating officer is an arm of the law and
plays a pivotal role in the dispensation of criminal justice
and maintenance of law and order. … Enough power is
therefore given to the police officer in the area of
investigating process and granting them the court latitude
to exercise its discretionary power to make a successful
investigation….”
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66. As held by the Supreme Court in a catena of judgments
that there is a well-defined and demarcated function in the field
of investigation and its subsequent adjudication. It is not the
function of the court to monitor the investigation process so long
as the investigation does not violate any provision of law. It must
be left to the discretion of the investigating agency to decide the
course of investigation. If the court is to interfere in each and
every stage of the investigation and the interrogation of the
accused, it would affect the normal course of investigation. It
must be left to the investigating agency to proceed in its own
manner in interrogation of the accused, nature of questions put
to him and the manner of interrogation of the accused.
67. It is one thing to say that if the power of investigation
has been exercised by an investigating officer mala fide or non-
compliance of the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code in
the conduct of the investigation, it is open to the court to quash
the proceedings where there is a clear case of abuse of power. It
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is a different matter that the High Court in exercise of its
inherent power under Section 482 CrPC, can always issue
appropriate direction at the instance of an aggrieved person if
the High Court is convinced that the power of investigation has
been exercised by the investigating officer mala fide and not in
accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code.
However, as pointed out earlier that power is to be exercised in
rare cases where there is a clear abuse of power and non-
compliance of the provisions falling under Chapter XII of the
Code of Criminal Procedure requiring the interference of the
High Court. In the initial stages of investigation where the Court
is considering the question of grant of regular bail or pre-arrest
bail, it is not for the Court to enter into the demarcated function
of the investigation and collection of evidence/materials for
establishing the offence and interrogation of the accused and the
witnesses.
175. It had been contended that this case has been decided prior to
Vijay Madanlal Choudhary referred supra wherein, it had been very
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specifically stated that the respondents were not police official.
176. But, it cannot be denied or disputed that the respondents have a
right to investigate further. The factum of arrest is only a step in
investigation. There cannot be a foreclosure of investigation or further
enquiry, merely because a person has been arrested. Investigation or enquiry
into the offence can continue, till a complaint is lodged and even thereafter,
if further materials are collected investigation or enquiry can continue. The
respondents have a right to conduct investigate / enquiry after arrest. This
can never be denied to the respondents herein. If such enquiry /
investigation is to be done only by taking the person arrested into custody,
then this Court cannot sit as an appellate authority to examine the reasons
stated therein. It is the Special Court which has the privilege to examine that
particular aspect and pass orders.
177. In the instant case, an order had been passed by the learned
Principal Sessions Judge. Therefore, since that had been passed after
examining all the facts and after hearing both the sides, I would hold that
the respondents herein have a right to take into custody.
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178. In view of this particular reasoning, I would align myself with
the opinion given by the Hon'ble Mr. Justice D. Bharatha Chakaravarthy, in
this case, insofar as this point is concerned.
179. Let me answer the third issue and then come back to the 2nd
issue. The 3rd point of difference is about exclusion of the days spent in
hospitalization by the detenue/ accused while calculating the 15 days from
the date of initial remand.
180. The law, in this point is crystallized in the judgment of the
Hon'ble Supreme Court reported in 1992 3 SCC 141, Central Bureau of
Investigation, Special Investigation Cell – I, New Delhi Vs. Anupam J.
Kulkarni. Mr. Kapil Sibal, learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of
the petitioner, placed this aspect as an argument to be taken only if the
Court holds that the respondents have a right of custody of the detenue/
accused.
181. Having held so, it must be examined whether the relief sought
by the respondents to exclude the period of hospitalization from the period
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of 15 days from the date of initial arrest can be granted to an investigation
agency.
182. To determine this aspect, the facts leading to the arrest of the
individual will have to be examined. There are two versions.
183. The petitioner claims that the grounds of arrest had not been
furnished and therefore, the arrest itself stands vitiated. It is also contended
that even though custody had been granted by the leaned Principal Sessions
Judge, by an order dated 16.06.2023, irrespective of the fact whether such
order is right or wrong, workable or not, an obligation was placed on the
respondents to take custody of the detenue/ accused wherever he is. It is
contended that taking physical custody does not mean that he should be
physically taken in the arms of the respondents, but at least the respondents
must place their hand on his shoulder. It had been stated by the learned
Senior Counsel that the respondents should have first taken custody
irrespective of the medical condition of the detenue/ accused and
irrespective of the conditions imposed by the learned Special Judge and
thereafter complain that the medical condition does not provide them with
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an adequate opportunity of effective interrogation or questioning of the
detenue/ accused.
184. It had been stated that the respondents in this case have not even
attempted to taken custody of the detenue/ accused. It had been therefore
stated that even without resorting to that particular first step, which is
required, the respondents had filed an appeal before the Hon'ble Supreme
Court on 19.06.2023.
185. On the side of the respondents, however, it is contended that in
view of the medical condition of the detenue/ accused and in view of the
conditions imposed, the entire custody would only be an exercise in futility,
in fact a mockery. The detenuewas actually facing severe medical ailment
and required immediate treatment / operation / surgery.
186. It had been orally stated by Mr. N. R. Elango, learned Senior
Counsel for the petitioner that the detenue/ accused was waiting and had
postponed his operation and was awaiting the entry of the respondents to
take him to the custody.
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187. I am not able to understand that particular line of arguments
advanced, taking into consideration, the conduct to the detenue/ accused
right from the time, when the statement under Section 50 had to be recorded
and when he had knowledge that he would be taken into custody. There is a
statement made in writing presented before the Court that he refused the
grounds of arrest. A reasonable presumption can be drawn that any official
act done in the course of official duty had been done in proper manner.
188. Section 114 (e) of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 is reads as
follows:-
114. Court may presume existence of certain facts. –– The Court
may presume the existence of any fact which it thinks likely to
have happened, regard being had to the common course of
natural events, human conduct and public and private business,
in their relation to the facts of the particular case.
(e) that judicial and official acts have been regularly performed;
189. The respondents have consistently asserted that the detenue/
accused refused to sign the papers, refused to sign the acknowledgement of
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the grounds of arrest and a panchnama was therefore drawn in the presence
of two witnesses. These issues can be examined in independent
proceedings. The accused after arrest, was taken to the hospital not only for
a mere medical check up prior to production for remand, but to actually
examine whether he had to be admitted as an in patient. Even in the petition,
one prime ground on which it was urged this Court should interfere with
the custody of the detenue/ accused was placed on the report of the hospital
authorities at Omandurar Government Medical Hospital, where he was first
taken. It had been very categorically stated and there are no reasons
advanced to question the bonafide of the doctors for their statement that he
had been admitted with C/o. Chest on 14.06.2023 at 2.10 am and had
Tachycardia with Acceleration Hypertension and Abnormal ECG changes.
It had also been stated that he had been admitted and was in observation in
cardiac ICU and was under Critical Care of the Management of the hospital.
190. Hon'ble Mr. Justice D. Bharatha Chakaravarthy had wondered
as to the proprietary of the respondents to even seek custody when this was
the medical condition of the detenu/accused, though ultimately, he did state
that the period of hospitalization should be excluded only for a period of 10
days.
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191. The provision of the Act overrides every other aspect. It had
been very specifically stated in 1992 3 SCC 141, Anupam J. Kulkarni,
referred supra the ratio of which has to be followed, that custody should be
applied for within the period of 15 days from the date of first remand. The
date of remand in this case was on 14.06.2023. The time for calculating 15
days starts from 14.06.2023. The respondents had no other option, whatever
be the medical condition of the detenue/ accused. They had to present an
application within 15 days. They presented an application. An order was
passed. The order was passed after the order of remand to the judicial
custody by the learned Principal Sessions Judge. That an order of judicial
custody was passed after the learned Principal Sessions Judge visited the
accused and remanded him in the hospital premises. Therefore, the learned
Principal Sessions Judge was directly aware of the medical condition of the
accused. It is for that reason that a series of conditions had been imposed.
Whether those conditions are workable or not is a different issue, but that
the detenue/ accused required medical treatment is obvious. He had been
operated on 21.06.2023. I do not give any credence to the statement that he
was waiting for the respondents to come and take him into custody. His
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prior conduct belies that statement. They could never have done it. He was
in the ICU both at Omandurar and Cauvery hospitals. Some respect should
be shown to the medical condition of the individual. At the same time this
has to be balanced with custody which has to be effective. It could be
effective only when he is in a position to understand the questions put and
answers the same. Custody cannot be a mere formality.
192. A reference had been made, quite apart from the judgment in
Anupam J. Kulkarni, referred supra to a three bench judgment of the
Hon'ble Supreme Court Budh Singh Vs. State of Punjab reported in (2000)
9 SCC 266. The facts in that particular case was that on 02.01.2000, on the
request of the investigating agency, one day police remand was granted to
the police and it was further extended to one further day on 03.01.2000. On
04.01.2000, a further application was made to extend the remand for a
further period of seven days. That was rejected. The State had filed a
revision before the Sessions Judge and the same was dismissed. They filed
an application under Section 482 Cr.P.C., before the High Court. A learned
Single Judge of the High Court had directed the Judicial Magistrate to grant
police remand for a further period of seven days. That order was questioned
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before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The Hon'ble Supreme Court had held as
follows:
“5. In the face of facts, as noticed above, the order of the
learned Judicial Magistrate, dated 4-1-2000, in our
opinion, did not require any interference. The mandate of
Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973
postulates that there cannot be any detention in police
custody, after the expiry of the first 15 days, so far as an
accused is concerned. That period of 15 days had in this
case admittedly expired on 4-1-2000. The impugned order
of the High Court violates the statutory provisions
contained in Section 167 CrPC since it authorises police
remand for a period of seven days after the expiry of the
first fifteen days' period. In CBI v. Anupam J. Kulkarni
[(1992) 3 SCC 141 : 1992 SCC (Cri) 554] this Court
considered the ambit and scope of Section 167 CrPC and
held that there cannot be any detention in police custody
after the expiry of the first 15 days even in a case where
some more offences, either serious or otherwise committed
by an accused in the same transaction come to light at a
later stage. The Bench, however, clarified that the bar did
not apply if the same arrested accused was involved in
some other or different case arising out of a different
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transaction, in which event the period of remand needs to
be considered in respect to each of such cases. The
impugned order of the High Court, under the
circumstances, cannot be sustained. The direction to grant
police remand for a period of seven days by the High
Court is, accordingly, set aside. The appeal, therefore,
succeeds and is allowed to the extent indicated above.”
193. It had been very specifically held that the impugned order of
the High Court violated the statutory provisions contained in Section 167 of
Cr.P.C., since it authorized police remand for a period of seven days after
the expiry of the first fifteen days period. Reliance was placed on Anupam
J. Kulkarni referred supra. The issue whether the period of 15 days owing
to non-taking of custody and owing to the circumstance and situation, which
was beyond the control of the respondent was not examined in that
particular judgment.
194. On the side of the respondents, reliance had been placed on
Central Bureau of Investigation Vs. Vikas Mishra reported in 2023 SCC
OnLine 377. In that particular case, two Judges of the Hon'ble Supreme
Court had taken into consideration the facts of that particular case, wherein
again the accused had admitted himself in hospital and had come to an
opinion that the period of hospitalization must be excluded.
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195. In Anupam Kulkarni case, it had been very categorically stated
that even if subsequent materials are obtained after the period of 15 days,
custody cannot be granted to the investigating agency. It had been very
specifically stated that police custody can be granted only within the period
of the first fifteen days from the date of initial remand. In that case, when
the accused was being physically taken for custody, he complained of
medical illness and was admitted to the hospital and there could not be
effective custody and therefore, an extension was sought. Here custody had
not been taken at all.
196. A perusal of all the three judgments show that, there is
application of this particular provision depending on the facts and
circumstances. As a rule and as law laid down, an application seeking
custody will necessary have to be filed within the period of fifteen days. It
cannot be filed after the period of fifteen days from the date of first remand.
If it is filed within the period of first fifteen days and if, it is impossible to
have effective custody, then the issue is whether that period of
impossibility consequent to hospitalization can be excluded or not.
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197. Reliance had also been made on a judgment of the Hon'ble
Supreme Court in S.Kasi Vs. State, reported in 2021 12 SCC 1. There an
application was made for extension or exclusion consequent to the Covid-19
Pandemic, which had imposed lock down. The Hon'ble Supreme Court
refused to extend the time.
198. It is therefore evident, that each case will have to be examined
on a case to case basis on the facts of each case. The fundamental aspect is
filing of application within the period of fifteen days from the date of first
remand. Thereafter, it is the learned Magistrate or in this case, the learned
Principal Sessions Judge who would have to apply mind and pass necessary
orders either to grant custody or refusing to grant custody.
199. In the instant case, custody has granted but on conditions. On
the date, when the custody was granted, the accused was still in hospital. He
was then operated on 21.06.2023. A series of conditions had been imposed
making it impossible for the respondents to conduct any effective
interrogation or investigation or enquiry. They could not even talk to him in
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the absence of medical persons. It has to be an effective enquiry. It has to
be an enquiry, which should lead, if possible to further discovery of facts.
This Court must view such statement by the respondents also by taking into
consideration his earlier conduct to scuttle any enquiry. That fact must be
taken into consideration by this Court. The attempts to scuttle arrest by
claiming the grounds of arrest was not furnished, when there is a specific
averment on the side of the respondents that the accused had refused to
receive the grounds of arrest is a significant fact. An E-mail was sent but
had not been disclosed in the petition by the petitioner.
200. Taking all these facts into consideration, I would go with the
opinion of the Hon'ble Justice Mr. D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, that there
should be exclusion of the period of hospitalization.
201. The learned Judge had stated that custody should be granted
within a period of 10 days from the date of that particular judgment, which
was on 04.07.2023 and stated that the accused should be shifted to prison
and if at all custody is to be taken after exclusion of this particular period,
the investigation or enquiry could be done in prison or in prison hospital.
The only remit of this Court is to examine whether there could be exclusion
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of the period of hospitalization and to that extent, I would concur with the
view of the Hon'ble Justice Mr. D. Bharatha Chakravarthy.
202. The second issue in which actually there is not much divergent
of views is whether the HCP is maintainable after a judicial order of remand
had been passed by a Court of competent jurisdiction.
203. This issue could be divided into two segments namely,
maintainability of the petition irrespective of the fact whether judicial order
of remand had been passed or not and maintainability, after the remand
order had been passed.
204. Both the learned Judge have stated the petition is maintainable.
A clarification had been made by Hon'ble Justice Mr. D. Bharatha
Chakravarthy, that if a judicial order of remand had been passed, then the
petition would be maintainable only in exceptional circumstances. Hon'ble
Justice Ms. J. Nisha Banu however stated that since the order of remand
itself stands vitiated, the petition is maintainable.
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205. In this connection, the order of remand will have to be first
examined to determine whether it withstands scrutiny and whether it had
been passed in manner known to law or whether it should be interfered with
by this Court.
206. The main reason under which it is questioned and challenged as
being non-est and as an order which should be ignored by this Court, is the
fact that when the accused was brought for remand, objections had also
been filed on behalf of the accused. It is complained that in the order of the
learned Principal Sessions Judge, she had only examined whether there was
a necessity to remand the accused and thereafter, had stated that as a
consequence thereof, the objections are rejected. Even, Hon'ble Justice Mr.
D. Bharatha Chakravarthy in the course of his judgment stated that such
procedure may not be entirely proper.
207. But the issue is whether that vitiates the order of remand itself.
It would so vitiate, if the reasons granting remand are also bad in law and
the order passed is completely irrational. That line of argument had not
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been projected.
208. When the learned judge had compared two petitions, one
seeking remand and the other seeking rejection of remand, the learned
Session Judge has to pass an order, which in the opinion of the learned
Sessions Judge is a more probable lawful order.
209. In the instant case, an order had been passed on the application
seeking remand. It is not for this Court to examine whether those reasons
are right and withstand scrutiny of this Court. Those reasons have not been
questioned. The competency of the Court to remand the accused has not
been questioned. The only grievance is that the application seeking rejection
or what may be called objection for remand had not been considered at all.
It had been stated in the order that since the remand had been granted, the
objections are refused. It had not been however contended that the reasons
for remand itself violates any legal principle.
210. The only principle which had been stated is that the grounds of
arrest had not been informed to the petitioner herein and that he did not
know why he was arrested. But there again, I would reject that particular
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argument, since an offence under the Act, though is a specific offence, is a
fall out or continuation of an earlier predicate offence. Therefore, it is not a
stand alone offence with no background at all and which has surfaced and
the accused was caught unawares as to why he was being arrested. He
knows the reasons. The respondents were in his house right from the
morning on 13.06.2023. They had been conducting search. They had been
seized various documents. He cannot proclaim innocence and ignorance
and seek indulgence of this Court. The learned Principal Sessions Judge, in
her order may have made a procedural irregularity in passing a detailed
order on the objections, but when balancing both the petitions, if there are
probable reasons for remand and that outweighs the reasons given to reject
such remand, then naturally an order of remand follows. That order will
have to stand. It is not for this Court to sit in revision or appeal over it.
211. There is yet another factor. The detenue/ accused himself had
applied for bail and raised objections. Once he had applied for bail and
raised objections, then he had submitted to the concept of arrest. There
cannot be a bail without there being a arrest. There cannot be a remand
without there being an arrest. Once he had participated in those judicial
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proceedings, then it must be taken that he had submitted himself to judicial
process. If a judicial order had been passed consequent to such judicial
process and is said to be unlawful or without following the procedure,
naturally, the remedy is to file a revision or appeal against it.
212. It is however pointed out that additional grounds have been
filed before this Court and there is a remit to find out whether the order of
remand would be sustainable and withstand scrutiny of this Court. The
order of remand had been examined and re-examined during the course of
arguments. The balances have been examined. The necessity has been
examined. The stipulations of the provisions have been examined and
finally it had been concluded by the learned Sessions Judge that remand is
required. Once there is an order of remand, the custody of the accused is
taken away from the respondents and now stood vested with the Court
granting remand. The respondents have no control over the person of the
accused/detenu. It stood vested with the Sessions Court. For instance, if
there is need to change in the hospital, the detenue/ accused need not apply
to the respondents seeking change of hospital. They will have to apply to
the learned Sessions Judge for further treatment or for better treatment in
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another hospital, if need arises. Therefore, it is the Court which now has
custody of the accused and that custody stood vested with the Court
consequent to an order of remand.
213. Reliance had been placed on the judgment of the Hon'ble
Supreme Court in Madhu Limaye and Others reported in (1969) 1 SCC
292. The facts there are extremely distinct. The FIR itself was lodged after
the petition was filed. It was therefore being contended that the very basis
for arrest cannot withstand the scrutiny of the Court.
214. The facts are totally distinguishable and I am not able to align
those facts with the facts of this particular case.
215. Here the First Information Report was initially lodged on a
complaint of the year 2015. Pursuant to investigation conducted a final
report had been filed. The final report had been taken cognizance and a
calender cases are pending before the competent Court. They are predicate
cases / offences.
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216. Subsequently on the basis of the such offence an ECIR had
been registered by the respondent. The competency of the respondent to so
register an ECIR has not been questioned. Even prior to the judgment of
the Hon'ble Supreme Court delivered on 16.05.2023, notices and summons
for appearance been issued to the accused. He had appeared. He had also
not appeared. He had appeared through his Chartered Accountant. These
are issues which this Court need not to examine. But the legality of the
registration of ECIR has never been questioned. Once that legality has not
been questioned, the consequent investigation or enquiry cannot also be
questioned because a right is vested to so enquire or to so investigate into
the offence of money laundering also, quite apart from detecting the trial of
the proceeds of crime. Among other powers are vested, the respondents had
the power to search, to seize, to arrest. Once an arrest has been initiated and
it is stated by the respondents that the detenue/accused had refused to
receive the copy of the memo of arrest and also the ground of arrest but it
was informed to the brother and the petitioner herein, a reasonable strong
presumption can be drawn that efforts had been taken to so inform the
grounds of arrest. Therefore, once arrest is legal, remand is legal. A Habeas
Corpus Petition would never lie.
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217. I would therefore, concur with the view of the Hon'ble Justice
Mr. D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, that the petition though maintainable cannot
be entertained after remand, and in this case can certainly not be entertained.
218. In the result, I would answer the points of difference as
follows:
(i)Whether Enforcement Directorate has the power to seek custody of
a person arrested?
The answer given by this Court is 'Yes' in alignment with the views /
opinion expressed by the Hon'ble Justice Mr. D. Bharatha Chakravarthy.
(ii)Whether the Habeas Corpus Petition itself is maintainable after a
judicial order of remand is passed by a Court of competent jurisdiction?
The Petition would be maintainable in exceptional circumstances, but
this case does not attract any exceptional circumstance and consequently
since an order of remand had been passed by a Court of competent
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jurisdiction, the relief sought in the petition cannot be granted. I would align
with the view expressed by the Hon'ble Justice Mr. D. Bharatha
Chakravarthy, with respect to this issue.
(iii)The consequential issue is as to whether Enforcement Directorate
would be entitled to seek exclusion of time for the period of hospitalization
beyond the first 15 days from the date of initial remand.
I would again align with the views of the Hon'ble Justice Mr. D.
Bharatha Chakravarthy, but leave it to the wisdom of the Division Bench to
actually determine the first date of such custody and the days for which
exclusion should be granted, since the date of that judgment was 04.07.2023
and the conditions stipulated by Hon'ble Justice Mr. D. Bharatha
Chakravarthy had long since lapsed. It is for the original Division Bench to
re-examine the starting date of custody. But as a finding, I would hold that
exclusion of time as sought is permissible. It is the prerogative of the
learned Judges to determine as to when the first date of custody would begin
and the manner in which it should be granted. The concept whether the
period of hospitalization can be excluded or not alone can be answered by
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this Court and I would answer that the period of hospitalization has to be
excluded.
219. In view of the findings returned, the Registry may place the
records relating to HCP.No.1021 of 2023 along with a copy of this
judgment before the Hon'ble Chief Justice to be further placed before the
Division Bench who may take note of the concurrence of this Court aligning
itself with the views expressed by the Hon'ble Justice Mr. D. Bharatha
Chakravarthy dismissing the petition and pass necessary orders giving a
quietus to the petition. This is an order which can be passed only by the
Division Bench, since there was a split verdict and they will now have to
take this judgment into consideration and pass necessary orders. It is hoped
that the Registry would place the record before the Hon'ble Chief Justice at
the earliest, so that the case which is kept open as on date, would be drawn
to its logical conclusion.
14.07.2023
vsg/smv
Index: Yes/No
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
Internet: Yes/No
Speaking / Non Speaking Order
To
1. The Deputy Director
Directorate of Enforcement
Chennai.
2. The Assistant Director,
Directorate of Enforcement, Chennai.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J.,
vsg/smv
H.C.P.No. 1021 of 2023
14.07.2023
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
