Reconsideration of the PMLA judgment in the Vijaylal Madanlal Choudhary case: Supreme Court adjourns matter till July 2024

On March 19, 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) adjourned the pleas seeking reconsideration of the Vijaylal Madanlal Choudhary judgment which upheld the constitutional validity of various provisions of the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) till July 2024. Further, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Bela M Trivedi, and Justice MM Sundresh permitted the appellants to file bail applications before an appropriate forum, in the meantime. The same should be dealt with following the law and uninfluenced by the fact that the present appeals/petitions before the SC were pending. The SC order reads “List before this bench subject to orders of Hon’ble the Chief Justice on 23rd, 24th, and 25th of July 2024. In the meanwhile the state directorate/CBI will file their synopsis not exceeding 7 pages along with relied-upon judgments with a copy to nodal counsel for petitioners/appellants. Notwithstanding the pendency of the present petitions/appeals, it will be open to petitioners/appellants to file applications for bail before an appropriate forum. Applications, if any, filed will be dealt with in accordance with law, without being influenced by the fact that petitions/appeals are pending before this Court.” Earlier on October 18, 2023, a three-judge bench of the SC consisting of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Bela M Trivedi, and Justice Sanjiv Khanna agreed to hear applications seeking reconsideration of its Vijay Madanlal judgment on November 22, 2023. The bench hearing the matter was dissolved as Justice Kaul was set to retire in a month and the Union Government needed more time to prepare. Therefore, Justice Kaul was replaced by Justice Sundresh by the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.