Month: October 2022

Preserving the silence: Different spheres of Section 313 CrPC and Article 20(3) of the Indian Constitution 

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~By Pragun Goyal Introduction Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (“CrPC”) has a profane silhouette around it. After the prosecution has closed its evidence, the accused is given an opportunity to explain the incriminating matter in evidence against him or her. No matter how bleak or scanty the prosecution evidence is, the court has to provide an opportunity … Continue reading Preserving the silence: Different spheres of Section 313 CrPC and Article 20(3) of the Indian Constitution 

Bail under PMLA: Comprehending the SC’s Imprimatur in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary vs UOI

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~By Devvrat Singh and Nishita Gupta Introduction  The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (hereinafter referred to as PMLA) was enacted in 2002 and since then it has undergone several amendments. The stated object of PMLA was to combat money-laundering activities and confiscate the properties involved in or connected to the act of money laundering. Several … Continue reading Bail under PMLA: Comprehending the SC’s Imprimatur in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary vs UOI

Time for a Seven-Judge Bench Reference to resolve the FIR conundrum?

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~By Abhinav Sekhri On 12.08.2022, the Supreme Court in XYZ v. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors. [Crl. Appeal No. 1184 of 2022] set aside an order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, and directed that a First Information Report ["FIR"] ought to be registered under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 ["Cr.P.C.'] by the local police on the … Continue reading Time for a Seven-Judge Bench Reference to resolve the FIR conundrum?

Old Wine in New Bottles? – The Judgement in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary (Part Two)

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~By Abhinav Sekhri The previous post in this two-part series considered how the Supreme Court's judgment in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. [SLP Crl. No. 4364 of 2014; Judgment dated 27.07.2022 ("Vijay Madanlal Choudhary") dealt with the offence of money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 ["PMLA"]. This post turns its lens to how the judgment … Continue reading Old Wine in New Bottles? – The Judgement in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary (Part Two)

Reverse Burden of Proof and its Implications on Presumption of Innocence

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~By Pragun Goyal The presumption of innocence of the accused is an esteemed 'golden thread’ in the criminal jurisprudence which is fundamentally tied to a reputation-related aspect of the accused in the criminal trial. The raisons d'être of this aspect is that no one can impute guilt to the accused before he is convicted beyond … Continue reading Reverse Burden of Proof and its Implications on Presumption of Innocence

Of Old Wine in New Bottles – The Judgement in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary (Part One)

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~By Abhinav Sekhri After marathon hearings, the Supreme Court finally pronounced its judgment on 27.07.2022 in a batch of over 200 petitions where the legality of various provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 ["PMLA"] had been challenged. This judgment — bearing the title Vijay Madanlal Choudhary & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. [SLP Crl No. 4364 … Continue reading Of Old Wine in New Bottles – The Judgement in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary (Part One)

Prakash Industries and Interpreting the PMLA

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~By Abhinav Sekhri The Delhi High Court has passed a detailed judgment in the matters of Hi-Tech Mercantile and Prakash Industries [Order dated 19.07.2022 in WP(C) No. 14999 of 2021 ("Prakash Industries"], touching on issues pertaining to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 [“PMLA”]. Holding in favour of the Petitioners and terminating the PMLA proceedings, the High Court … Continue reading Prakash Industries and Interpreting the PMLA