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The Supreme Court has granted regular bail to former Chhattisgarh excise officer Arun Pati Tripathi, who was accused in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam under charges of money laundering. However, despite this relief, Tripathi will remain in jail as he is also facing a separate case filed by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
Supreme Court Criticizes Misuse of PMLA
While delivering the verdict, the Supreme Court made a strong remark on the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stating that it is being misused, much like Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with dowry-related harassment cases. The court emphasized that the provisions of the PMLA should not be used as a tool to keep an accused behind bars indefinitely.
A bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine Masih criticized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its handling of the case. The court underlined that laws should not be weaponized to suppress individuals and that every accused has the right to fair legal proceedings.
A Serious Concern Raised by the Court
During the last hearing, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who appeared for the ED, faced tough questions from the bench. The court expressed concerns about irregularities within the ED's affidavit and termed the issue a matter of grave concern.
Tripathi was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in May 2023 in connection with the liquor scam case. As a senior officer of the Excise Department, he had also served as the Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited.
This ruling has once again sparked a debate on the misuse of financial laws, with legal experts pointing out that arbitrary use of PMLA should be prevented to ensure justice.
