New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has decided to approach the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order that quashed a money laundering case linked to news portal NewsClick and its Editor-in-Chief, Prabir Purkayastha. The agency has described the High Court ruling as flawed and has said that key submissions made by the prosecution were not adequately considered.
Appeal Against May 29 Judgment
According to officials, the ED will file a detailed appeal before the Supreme Court against the May 29 judgment of the Delhi High Court. The case involves allegations related to violations of foreign direct investment rules and provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
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In its 41-page judgment, the High Court had observed that continuing the proceedings amounted to an abuse of the process of law. The court also noted that once the FIR linked to the predicate offence was quashed, the ED case could not survive independently.
The ED has disagreed with this interpretation and maintains that several legal and factual aspects placed before the court were not properly addressed in the final judgment.
Agency Cites Evidence And Legal Concerns
Officials said the agency believes the High Court overlooked important documentary and digital evidence gathered during the investigation. The ED is expected to argue that financial records, transaction trails and technical evidence require further judicial scrutiny.
The agency also disputes the view that there is no identifiable victim in the case. Officials said this position does not fully account for the nature of the alleged financial transactions and the complexity of the investigation.
The ED has indicated that the matter is not limited to alleged financial irregularities alone, but also involves issues related to cross-border funding and complex financial structures.
NewsClick Denies Allegations
NewsClick has maintained that the allegations against it are politically motivated and part of a broader attack on press freedom. The organisation has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the case.
The matter is now set to move into the next stage of litigation before the Supreme Court. The outcome may have implications for the interpretation of the PMLA and the relationship between money laundering cases and underlying criminal offences.
With both sides preparing for the next round of arguments, the Supreme Court’s view will determine whether the case remains closed or returns for further judicial examination.
