Under Section 44(1)(c) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, what is the primary condition for the joint trial of a predicate offence and a money laundering charge?

Both courts dealing with the respective offences must have taken cognisance of the cases.

The ED must file a request within 30 days of the predicate offence trial starting.

The state government must provide written consent for the transfer of the case.

The accused must voluntarily surrender to the PMLA special court.

Daily

250 words

6/10
Rating

6 August 2026

Legal proceedings against former DMK Minister Anitha R. Radhakrishnan

The judgment provides a specific legal interpretation of Section 44(1)(c) of the PMLA, 2002, regarding the procedural requirements for the joint trial of predicate and money laundering offences, which is a relevant issue for judicial functioning and statutory interpretation.

Notes

Madras High Court dismissed an ED plea to transfer a disproportionate assets case from a Thoothukudi sessions court to a PMLA special court in Madurai.
The court ruled that Section 44(1)(c) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, allows for joint trial of predicate offences and money laundering charges only if both courts have taken cognisance of the respective cases.
The Thoothukudi court is at the final stage of trial, having examined 79 prosecution witnesses and 6 defence witnesses.
The Madurai PMLA court has not yet taken cognisance of the money laundering complaint, and the mandatory sanction for prosecution remains pending after one year.
The High Court emphasized that Section 44(1)(c) is intended to save time and prevent conflicting verdicts, not to reopen trials that are nearing completion.
The court vacated an interim stay, directing the Thoothukudi trial to proceed with expedition to avoid denial of justice through delay.

Questions

Discuss the legal requirements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 for the joint trial of predicate offences and money laundering charges. How does the judiciary balance procedural efficiency with the prevention of trial delays? 150 words

Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min

0 / 150 words 8:00

Prelims

Under Section 44(1)(c) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, what is the primary condition for the joint trial of a predicate offence and a money laundering charge?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

HC dismisses plea to transfer case againstex-Minister from Thoothukudi to Madurai

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-08-06/legal-proceedings-against-former-dmk-minister-anitha-r