'Dangerous Verdict': Opposition Issues Joint Statement Against SC Upholding PMLA

The judgment allows the ED to retain a lot of brazen powers during investigation.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 22 July, passed their order in the batch of petitions concerning the interpretation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

The Opposition parties, including Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress, DMK, Aam Admi Party (AAP), Shiv Sena, and others, issued a joint statement on Wednesday, 3 August, against the Supreme Court judgment which upheld the amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, in entirety.

"We place on record our deep apprehension on the long-term implications of the recent Supreme Court judgement upholding," they said in the statement.

The Opposition said that the amendments have made it more conducive for the government to engage in political vendetta.

"Yet, we are compelled to point out that the judgment should have awaited the verdict of a larger Bench for examining the constitutionality of the Finance Act route to carry out amendments. These far-reaching amendments strengthened the hands of a government, indulging in political vendetta of the worst kind, by using these very amended laws relating to money laundering and investigation agencies, to target its political opponents in a mischievous and malicious manner."

The Joint Statement

"We are also very disappointed that the highest judicial authority, invited to give an independent verdict on the lack of checks and balances in the Act, has virtually reproduced arguments given by the executive in support of draconian amendments. We hope that the dangerous verdict will be short lived and constitutional provisions will prevail soon," the Opposition leaders said in their joint statement.

The parties added they hold and will always hold the Supreme Court in the highest respect.

Among the parties that have signed the joint statement are the Congress, the TMC, DMK, AAP, NCP, Shiv Sena, CPI-M, CPI, IUML, RSP, MDMK, RJD and RLD.

The apex court on 22 July had upheld several provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, allowing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to retain a lot of brazen powers that can be exercised by them during the course of their investigation.

The powers include that of arrest, attachment, and search and seizure conferred on the Enforcement Directorate.