LexPRADEEP NIRANKARNATH SHARMA versus DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT & ANR.
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[2025] 4 S.C.R. 71 : 2025 INSC 349 Pradeep Nirankarnath Sharma v. Directorate of Enforcement & Anr. (Criminal Appeal No. 1314 of 2025) 17 March 2025 [Vikram Nath* and Prasanna B. Varale, JJ.] Issue for Consideration The High Court dismissed the appellant’s criminal revision application and refused to the quash the order of the Trial Court rejecting the appellant’s discharge application in a case for offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Headnotes† Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 – The allegation against the appellant was that he was involved in financial transactions related to proceeds of crime, generated through fraudulent activities causing significant financial losses to the State – The appellant has contended that the alleged acts do not constitute an offence under the PMLA as the same was not in force during the relevant period, or the predicate offences as alleged were not included in the schedule to the PMLA at the relevant time and, therefore, cannot be subject to proceedings under the PMLA: Held: The contention is untenable – It is well established that offences under the PMLA are of a continuing nature, and the act of money laundering does not conclude with a single instance but extends so long as the proceeds of crime are concealed, used, or projected as untainted property – The legislative intent behind the PMLA is to combat the menace of money laundering, which by its very nature involves transactions spanning over time – In the present case, the material on record establishes that the misuse of power and position by the appellant, coupled with the alleged utilization and concealment of proceeds of crime, has had an enduring impact – The act of laundering money is not a one-time occurrence but rather a process that continues so long as the benefits derived from criminal activity remain in circulation * Author 72 [2025] 4 S.C.R. Supreme Court Reports within the financial system or are being actively utilized by the accused – The respondent has submitted that fresh instances of the utilization of the proceeds of crime have surfaced even in recent times, thereby extending the offence into the present and negating the appellant’s contention that the act was confined to a particular point in the past – The respondent has successfully demonstrated prima facie that the appellant remained involved in financial transactions linked to proceeds of crime beyond the initial point of commission – As far as the statutory threshold for initiating proceedings under the PMLA is concerned, the financial trail indicates that the aggregated value of assets derived from the alleged criminal activity is well beyond the prescribed limit – Thus, the material submitted by the respondent, coupled with the broad legislative framework of the PMLA, indicates the necessity of allowing the trial to proceed and not discharging the appellant at the nascent stage of charge framing.[Paras 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34] Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 – Continuing offence: Held: The concept of a continuing offence under PMLA has been well-settled by judicial precedents – An offence is deemed continuing when the illicit act or its consequences persist over time, thereby extending the liability of the offender – Section 3 of the PMLA defines the offence of money laundering to include direct or indirect attempts to indulge in, knowingly assist, or knowingly be a party to, or actually be involved in any process or activity connected with the proceeds of crime – Such involvement, if prolonged, constitutes a continuing offence. [Para 22] Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 – Objective: Held: The PMLA was enacted with the primary objective of preventing money laundering and confiscating the proceeds of crime, thereby ensuring that such illicit funds do not undermine the financial system – Money laundering has far-reaching consequences, not only in terms of individual acts of corruption but also in causing significant loss to the public exchequer – The laundering of proceeds of crime results in a significant loss to the economy, disrupts lawful financial transactions, and erodes public trust in the system.[Para 30] Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 – Judicial intervention at a preliminary stage: [2025] 4 S.C.R. 73 Pradeep Nirankarnath Sharma v. Directorate of Enforcement & Anr. Held: The illegal diversion and layering of funds have a cascad
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