Today in Politics: Supreme Court to Review PMLA Verdict

A special three-judge bench of the Supreme Court will hear petitions on Wednesday seeking a review of its July 27, 2022 decision upholding the constitutional validity of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) and its amendments. The provisions in question address the Enforcement Directorate’s powers concerning arrest, search, attachment, and seizure in money laundering cases.

The petitions are set to be heard by Justices Surya Kant, C.T. Ravikumar, and Ujjal Bhuyan.

In November 2017, a bench of Justices Rohinton Nariman and Sanjay Kishan Kaul declared the ‘twin test’ for bail under PMLA unconstitutional, citing it as “manifestly arbitrary.” However, this ruling was overturned by a three-judge bench led by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar on July 27, 2022. The bench upheld the PMLA law and validated the twin conditions for bail outlined in Section 45 of the Act. This section stipulates that bail can be granted only if the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe the accused is not guilty and is not likely to commit further offenses if released.

Opposition Meeting on Maharashtra Assembly Polls

As the Maharashtra Assembly elections approach in October, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)—comprising the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction)—will hold a meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday to discuss seat-sharing and campaign strategies. The MVA recently made significant gains in the Lok Sabha polls, winning 30 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra and reducing the BJP’s tally.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to meet with party leaders and state Congress presidents to finalize the party’s stance on these matters. The Congress plans to kick off its campaign on August 20, coinciding with the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Amid the election preparations, the Maratha quota agitation, led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil, is expected to intensify. Patil will hold rallies across several districts, advocating for recognition of Kunbis as Maratha community members and reservation under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category.

In contrast, the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA), led by Prakash Ambedkar, will commemorate ‘Mandal Victory Day’ on August 7, marking 34 years since the Mandal Commission’s report established OBC reservations. The VBA’s event will include leaders from both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the MVA, as well as over 500 OBC groups.

Shiv Sena Faction Dispute

The Supreme Court will also hear a plea from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction challenging Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar’s order recognizing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s bloc as the “real political party” following the June 2022 split. The Thackeray faction argues that the Speaker’s decision is “patently unlawful and perverse,” claiming it rewards defectors instead of addressing the act of defection.

In Parliament

The Finance Bill, 2024, is set for further consideration in the Lok Sabha, with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expected to move for its passage. The Bill will also be taken up by the Rajya Sabha.