N. AJMAL KHAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These Appeals arise out of a common judgment of conviction that had been made against the appellants for their involvement in the offences covered under the Provisions of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (herein after referred to as the "PMLA Act"). As a consequence, these Appeals were taken up together with the consent of the learned counsels appearing on either side.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that the appellants in connivance with each other had committed an offence under Sec. 420 r/w. 120 IPC for which criminal cases had been registered against them. It is the case of the prosecution that the first accused had floated firms with the help of the third accused and had cheated various people who had filed complaints for commission of the scheduled offences and of the sale proceeds, properties were acquired making the sale proceeds tainted money, thereby committing an offence under Sec. 3 of the PMLA Act. The appellants/ accused have all been convicted and the same is in challenge before us.

(3.) Heard Mr.R.John Sathyan, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr.P.Pugalenthi, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant in Crl.A.No.979 of 2022, Mr.K.Balasubramaniam, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant in Crl.A.No.980 of 2022, Mr.A.M.Rahamath Ali, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant in Crl.A.No.987 of 2022 and Mr.P.Sidharthan, learned Special Public Prosecutor for Directorate of Enforcement Cases appearing on behalf of the respondent(s) in all Appeals.