PMLA powers under challenge as maintainability of review petitions affects arrest, attachment and search powers considered.
Supreme Court recalled its May 2 liquidation order against Bhushan Power & Steel and set aside JSW Steel's resolution plan; it will first decide the maintainability of review petitions challenging the 2022 ruling upholding the Enforcement Directorate's powers under the Prevention of Money Laundering framework to arrest, attach property and conduct search and seizure. The Court framed refugee status versus illegal entry as the key issue in Rohingya cases and directed the Telangana assembly speaker to decide disqualification petitions against ten members within three months.

Maintainability of PMLA review petitions to be heard first, addressing ED powers on arrest, attachment and searches.
The Supreme Court will first decide the maintainability of review petitions challenging its prior ruling that upheld the Enforcement Directorate's powers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act - specifically the ED's authority over arrest, attachment of property and search and seizure - a procedural threshold that will determine whether substantive review of those powers may proceed.

Fugitive economic offender designation enables asset confiscation while maintainability and procedural objections to the challenge remain contested.
A petition contests a trial court declaration of a UK resident as a fugitive economic offender, focusing on maintainability and whether interim protection against ED confiscation may issue before the agency's objections are heard. The record relied on tax raids, PMLA prosecutions, alleged undisclosed foreign assets and backdated documents, and a failed extradition attempt; the ED seeks confiscation based on the declaration while the petitioner argues lawful foreign residence and extradition rulings undermine labeling him a fugitive for confiscation purposes.

Money laundering probe targets alleged cooperative bank loan fraud, prompting searches and recovery of documents on irregular loan disbursal.
Investigators executed searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act into alleged loan fraud at the Andaman Nicobar State Cooperative Bank, seizing documents alleging large-scale irregularities in granting loans and overdraft facilities and departures from bank procedures. The probe targets a network of entities alleged to have been used to illegally obtain credit for the benefit of a former Member of Parliament, and originates from an FIR by the regional Crime and Economic Offences Wing.

Asset attachment under PMLA after alleged property fraud using forged deeds and routing of illicit proceeds through associates.
Allegations of a structured land fraud operation prompted provisional asset attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alleging an organised syndicate used forged deeds, counterfeit wills and manipulated records to claim title to high value immovable properties. The investigation alleges proceeds of crime were received by the accused and routed through accounts of family members and associates, employing layering and integration to obscure illicit origins; enforcement authorities are tracing and seeking to attach additional assets to map the laundering network.

Asset restitution under PMLA enables attached bank assets to be released for depositor compensation pending trial.
The Enforcement Directorate used the PMLA restitution mechanism to transfer provisionally attached assets, identified as proceeds of crime diverted through fictitious loan accounts, to the RBI appointed liquidator with the ED's consent and judicial direction for auction and distribution by the Competent Authority to compensate depositors.

Money laundering probe under PMLA targets alleged sheep distribution scam, prompting searches of beneficiaries, intermediaries and officials.
A federal investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act targets alleged diversion and laundering of public funds in a state sheep rearing and distribution scheme. Searches focused on beneficiaries, middlemen and officials after an anti corruption FIR; investigators treat identified sums as proceeds of crime and are examining transactional records and intermediary roles. An audit report found implementation irregularities-defective records, improper invoices, duplicate tags and allocations to dead or non existent persons-prompting reassessment of the fiscal loss and verification of beneficiary authenticity across districts.

Money laundering probe under PMLA exposes alleged procurement fraud and inflated medical-supply contracts in government healthcare procurement.
A money laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act targets alleged large-scale irregularities in state medical procurement, prompting coordinated searches at multiple premises linked to government officials, suppliers, agents and middlemen. The probe follows an anti-corruption chargesheet alleging collusion in purchases without verification of need, procurement from related entities, and substantial mark-ups compared to market rates, with investigative action focused on tracing proceeds and collecting evidence.

Predicate offence requirement under PMLA blocks prosecution after compounding; ED urges fresh FIR based on geospatial evidence.
Compounding of the original criminal complaints at a Lok Adalat prevented prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act because a predicate offence is required. The federal agency shared geospatial forensic evidence with the state mining department alleging extensive illegal excavation beyond lease areas and significant revenue loss, and has requested filing of fresh FIRs under relevant penal, mining and environmental laws so criminal prosecution may proceed and enable anti money laundering action.

Money laundering investigation prompts Enforcement Directorate searches and questioning in high-profile cases linked to medical supply and online betting allegations.
Enforcement Directorate searches and multi-location actions are underway in a suspected large-scale medical-supply fraud treated as a money laundering predicate under the PMLA, while related PMLA inquiries have led to summons and questioning of individuals in alleged online betting-linked laundering matters; these steps emphasize search, seizure and investigative tracing of illicit proceeds.

Money laundering probe: agency examines celebrity endorsements of online betting platforms and related illicit fund links.
Investigative proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act concern whether celebrity endorsements of online betting platforms produced or laundered illicit funds. The agency consolidated state FIRs, summoned several public figures to record statements, and is examining endorsement fees, transactional links, and the summoned persons' knowledge or intent regarding the platforms' illegal betting operations.

Money laundering probe under PMLA into sheep distribution scheme uncovers alleged irregularities and widespread beneficiary record falsification.
An investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act targets alleged laundering in a sheep rearing and distribution scheme after Enforcement Directorate searches at multiple locations linked to beneficiaries, middlemen and an associated official. The inquiry focuses on tracing proceeds and examining whether implementation irregularities-identified in a CAG audit as incomplete beneficiary records, suspect transportation invoices, duplicate tags and allocations to dead or non existent persons-indicate diversion or concealment of public funds and support predicate offences for money laundering analysis.

Money laundering probe under PMLA targets alleged medical procurement fraud, prompting coordinated searches and asset scrutiny.
A money laundering investigation under the PMLA targets alleged procurement irregularities in medical equipment and reagents, prompting searches at premises linked to officials, suppliers, agents and intermediaries. The probe stems from a chargesheet alleging purchases without needs assessment and collusion with a supplier and its purported shell company, triggering asset-tracing and search operations to examine financial flows and transactional links in the procurement chain.

Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill may be used against opposition and critics, raising concerns over safeguards and misuse.
The Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024 seeks to prevent unlawful activities by left wing extremist organisations with a focus on urban Naxalism, and the government maintains the Bill contains safeguards against misuse. Critics contend the Bill's scope could be used against political leaders, farmers, social activists and journalists for speaking against the government, citing broader concerns about selective enforcement under financial and criminal statutes and judicial commentary on interpretations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Closure reports in money-laundering inquiries under PMLA highlight prosecutorial discontinuance where predicate offences remain before courts.
The ED has initiated numerous investigations under the PMLA, filed prosecution complaints and supplementary charge sheets, and in some matters filed closure reports where the PMLA prosecution depends on an underlying predicate offence; continuance or disposition of that primary case can affect the viability of the PMLA prosecution before special courts.

Lawyer-client privilege protects attorneys from investigative summons except when evidence shows they assisted in the crime.
Probe agencies should not summon lawyers merely for rendering legal advice or representation because lawyer-client communications are privileged; summonses are permissible only when there is material indicating the lawyer assisted the client in the commission of a crime. The court sought written suggestions from bar bodies, invited law officer input, and signalled the need for procedural safeguards and judicial oversight to prevent investigative overreach.

Money laundering probe: enforcement searches recover devices, documents and freeze assets linked to alleged illegal construction cartel.
Searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act targeted premises linked to a former municipal commissioner, family, associates and alleged benamidars in an investigation into alleged money laundering from large-scale illegal construction; authorities recovered digital devices, documents and cash and froze bank deposits and mutual funds after finding an alleged cartel of architects, CAs, liasoners and municipal officials colluding to fabricate approvals and sell unauthorised buildings on land reserved for public utilities.

Predicate Offence Collapse undermines maintenance of a PMLA prosecution, prompting notice to enforcement authorities for response.
The PMLA quash application argues that acquittal on the underlying scheduled offence, upheld on appeal, defeats the prosecution's claim that the impugned funds constitute proceeds of crime, and therefore the connected PMLA FIR is unsustainable; the court has issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate and listed further hearing while a similar plea by a co-accused awaits adjudication.

Money laundering probe under PMLA targets online betting ads as agency questions platform compliance and seeks documents.
Enforcement Directorate officials summoned platform representatives to depose in a money laundering probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act concerning alleged promotion of illegal online betting and gambling platforms, and may record the statement of a designated compliance officer and obtain documents to evaluate ad-placement mechanisms, intermediary roles, and potential laundering and tax-evasion linked to those platforms.

Money laundering probe prompts searches at Reliance group firms; companies report cooperation and no operational impact.
The Enforcement Directorate carried out and concluded searches at Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Power locations in a money laundering and bank loan diversion probe, recovering documents and computer peripherals; investigations focus on alleged illegal loan diversion to group companies, AT 1 bond investments with suspected quid pro quo, undisclosed foreign accounts, and related bank fraud classifications, while the companies state full cooperation and no impact on their governance or operations.