‘What is conviction rate in PMLA cases? you detain a person for years’: SC to ED

Grants bail to ex-Chhattisgarh CM's deputy secretary in ED case related to coal levy ‘scam’

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim bail to Saumya Chaurasia, the deputy secretary of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is implicated in a money-laundering case associated with an alleged coal-levy scam.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan noted that Chaurasia was in custody for more than a year and nine months, charges are yet to be framed against her and the trial has not begun.

Justice Bhuyan raised concerns about the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) practices, particularly its low conviction rate and tendency to keep individuals in custody for extended periods without framing charges. He remarked: "Without charges being framed, how long can you keep a person in jail? [Maximum] sentence is 7 years! What is the rate of conviction in PMLA cases? In Parliament they said only in 41 cases there has been conviction...then? You keep a person in jail for YEARS!"