Supreme Court: Distinction between S 50 of PML Act and Section 160/161 of Code of Criminal Procedure

 Apart from the fact that Section 50 is a gender neutral, as it does not make any distinction between a man and a woman, there are glaring inconsistencies between the provisions contained in Section 50 of PMLA and Section 160/161 of Code of Criminal Procedure. The Chapter XII of Code of Criminal Procedure pertains to the "Information to the Police and their Powers to Investigate". Section 160 which falls under Chapter XII empowers the Police Officer making an investigation under the said Chapter to require any person to attend within the limits of his own or adjoining station who, from the information given or otherwise appears to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case, whereas, the process envisaged by Section 50 of the PMLA is in the nature of an inquiry against the proceeds of crime and is not "Investigation" in strict sense of the term for initiating prosecution; and the Authorities referred to in Section 48 of PMLA are not the Police Officers as held in Vijay Madanlal. It has been specifically laid down in the said decision that the statements recorded by the Authorities Under Section 50 of PMLA are not hit by Article 20(3) or Article 21 of the Constitution, rather such statements recorded by the authority in the course of inquiry are deemed to be the Judicial proceedings in terms of Section 50(4), and are admissible in evidence, whereas the statements made by any person to a Police Officer in the course of an investigation under Chapter XII of the Code could not be used for any purpose, except for the purpose stated in the proviso to Section 162 of the Code. In view of such glaring inconsistencies between Section 50 PMLA and Section 160/161 Code of Criminal Procedure, the provisions of Section 50 PMLA would prevail in terms of Section 71 read with Section 65 thereof. {Para 16}

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

Criminal Appeal Nos. 2221-2222 of 2023

Decided On: 09.09.2024

Abhishek Banerjee and Ors. Vs. Directorate of Enforcement

Hon'ble Judges/Coram:

Bela M. Trivedi and S.C. Sharma, JJ.

Author: Bela M. Trivedi, J.

Citation:  MANU/SC/0991/2024,2024 INSC 668.

Read full Judgment here: Click here.