SLP dismissed, conditional release of attached properties and de-frozen bank accounts under PMLA upheld by higher forum

SC, in a money laundering matter under the PMLA, declined to interfere with the HC's order directing provisional release of attached immovable property and de-freezing of the petitioner's bank accounts. The HC had ordered release of the Schedule-"C" properties subject to specified conditions, relying on binding precedent and a co-ordinate bench decision. The SC, finding no error warranting intervention under Article 136, dismissed the special leave petition, thereby affirming the conditional release of the attached assets and continuance of the HC's directions.

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The Supreme Court, exercising its jurisdiction under Article 136, first condoned the delay in filing the special leave petition ("Delay condoned"). However, it declined to interfere with the "impugned judgment and order of the High Court" and accordingly dismissed the special leave petition ("the special leave petition is dismissed"). Crucially, the Court clarified that the "question of law, if any, is kept open," indicating that although relief was denied in this particular matter, the legal issues involved are not foreclosed and may be urged in future cases. The Court further directed that all pending application(s), if any, "shall stand disposed of," thereby closing all ancillary proceedings in this petition.

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