SC extends interim protection from arrest to Karti till April 2

The Supreme Court on Monday extended the interim protection against arrest to Karti Chidambaram, granted by the Delhi High Court in the INX Media money laundering case, till April 2.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud passed its order as the court's hearing relating to challenge among others, the validity of Section 19 (power of arrest) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, remained inconclusive.

The top court has decided to make an authoritative pronouncement in the matter in view of several conflicting orders of different high courts on the probe agency's power of arrest.

In his submission, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta contended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been armed with the power of arrest under the statute, keeping in mind the several international conventions underlining the need to curb money laundering generated from drugs smuggling, terror financing and black money routing.

The advent of e-commerce has made an investigation into money laundering more difficult as ill-gotten wealth have been transferred to all corners of the world very conveniently after globalisation, he said.

Karti was on March 23 granted bail by the Delhi High Court in connection with the INX Media corruption case lodged by the CBI. He was arrested by the CBI on February 28 in Chennai immediately after he returned from abroad.