1. Leave granted.
2. Heard learned senior counsel appearing for
the appellant. The appellant was arrested in
connection with offence punishable under Section 3
of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002
(for short, ‘the PMLA’) on 21st April, 2024. On a
complaint filed by the respondent under Section 44
(1)(b) of the PMLA, cognizance was taken on 5th
October, 2024 by the Special Court. Our attention
is invited to the order dated 2nd April, 2025
passed by the High Court of Chhatisgarh, Bilaspur
CRIMINAL APPEAL @ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CRL.) NO.3148/2025 1/7
in CRR No.246/2025 by which the order of
cognizance passed by the Special Court under the
PMLA has been set aside as against the appellant
on the ground that a sanction under Section 197 of
the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 – (Section
218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita,
2002) was not granted before the order taking
cognizance. The order dated 17th April, 2025 has
not been challenged.
