Supreme Court Criticizes Prolonged Detention Under PMLA

The Court grants bail to former Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji, highlighting concerns over misuse of anti-money laundering laws.

The Supreme Court granted bail to V Senthil Balaji, arrested in June 2023 on money laundering charges linked to a cash-for-jobs scam.
The Court condemned the use of PMLA provisions to extend pretrial detention without a foreseeable end to the trial.
Justices AS Oka and AG Masih emphasized that constitutional courts must not allow indefinite incarceration under stringent laws like PMLA.
The ruling reflects broader judicial concerns about laws being weaponized to violate fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Balaji's case underscores the need for expeditious trials, especially under statutes with severe bail restrictions, to prevent unjust prolonged detention.