Karnataka High Court ruled against quashing a PMLA case involving a ₹20 crore land scam, emphasizing that it cannot conduct a mini-trial at the quashing stage. The court noted the seriousness of the allegations and the existence of a chargesheet.
Karnataka HC Refuses to Quash PMLA Case
The Karnataka High Court recently declined to quash a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case regarding a ₹20 crore fraud related to land acquisition conducted by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB). The court highlighted that it cannot engage in the appreciation of evidence at this stage, especially when a chargesheet has been filed and cognisance taken by the trial court.
The ruling stressed that allegations involving serious disputes concerning facts, particularly those concerning substantial land acquisitions, necessitate a proper examination by the trial court. The court clarified that Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C.) does not permit it to conduct what is effectively a mini-trial when faced with such issues.
“The allegations relate to seriously disputed questions of fact involving a massive land acquisition fraud,” the court stated.
This decision underscores the High Court's stance on maintaining the integrity of criminal proceedings where substantial evidence exists. Practitioners should note that filing a quashing petition will be scrutinized heavily at the threshold stage if a chargesheet is already in place.
Citations
- Karnataka HC Order (2026) 1 KALT 230
