The Bombay High Court has held that a single court, which is notified to hear cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC), will hear all the cases related to the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab and National Bank (PNB) scam in which absconding accused diamond merchant Nirav Modi is the prime accused.

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Justice Mridula Bhatkar has directed Principal Judge of the City Civil & Sessions Court to assign these cases to a Judge who has the power as the designated judge under both Acts.

Co-accused Vipul Chitralia, Hemant Bhatt and also the Enforcement Directorate Court had moved the high court, seeking directions of the City Civil and Sessions Court to try all cases related to the scam before one court.

It was argued that "while courtroom number 51 at the sessions court is notified court under Section 3 of the PC Act, known as CBI Court, courtroom number 16 is assigned all matters under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act."

Advocate Hiten Venegaonkar, appearing for the ED, told the court that Principal Judge had issued an administrative order recently whereby court room number 48 was designated as the PMLA and PC court. Thus, the court said, "Accordingly, the Principal Judge of the City Civil & Sessions Court, Greater Mumbai is directed to assign these cases to a Judge who is having the powers as the Designated Judge under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and also under the Prevention of Corruption Act, as per the convenience."

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Justice Mridula Bhatkar has directed Principal Judge of the City Civil & Sessions Court to assign these cases to a Judge who has the power as the designated judge under both Acts.