SC transfers to itself all cases related to ED’S power to arrest on PMLA charges

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday transferred to itself all pending Delhi High Court (HC) cases related to the adjudication of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) power to arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), including the INX Media case related to Karti Chidambaram. At the same time, the SC extended interim relief granted to Karti by the Delhi HC, to until March 26.

An SC bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra extended the interim relief for Karti - from possible arrest by the ED - which was earlier on Thursday extended by two days by the Delhi HC.

The apex court’s decision came after the CBI and the ED petitioned the SC challenging the Delhi HC decision to grant interim relief to Karti, from possible arrest by the ED in the INX case which is to do with alleged money laundering by Karti. The two agencies said in their plea to the top court that Karti, a son of senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram, “abused” the law to get relief from the Delhi HC.

The two agencies detailed what they called a “gross abuse of process of law” and how pieces in a maze were made to fall into place, setting the stage for relief.

The probe agencies said much before Karti moved the SC with a writ petition questioning the ED’S power to summon and arrest, another petition had raised similar issues before the Delhi HC.