Supreme Court: PMLA Accused Can't Be Kept in Custody If Order Taking Cognizance of ED Complaint Has Been Quashed

The Supreme Court in the case Arun Pati Tripathi v. Directorate of Enforcement observed and has granted bail to an accused in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, PMLA after noting that the order taking cognizance of the prosecution complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate, ED has been quashed.

- TDG NETWORK

The court in the case questioned the Enforcement Directorate, ED for continuing the custody of the accused, who has been in custody since August 2024, after the order dated February 7, 2025 was quashed, taking cognizance.

The bench comprising of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing the present matter.

In the present matter, Arun Kumar Tripathi, an Indian Telecommunications Service Officer, was arrested by Enforcement Directorate, ED on August 8, 2024 in a money laundering case connected with the Chhattisgarh liquor scam.

On October 05, 2024, the supplementary prosecution complaint naming Tripathi as accused was filed.