Supreme Court: Detained Individuals Must Be Given 'Reasons to Believe' Under PMLA

The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) must be furnished with 'reasons to believe' to challenge their detention. A bench granted interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, emphasizing strict adherence to legal safeguards to protect personal liberty.

The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that individuals arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) must be provided with the 'reasons to believe' for their arrest, empowering them to contest their detention.

Granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam, Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta emphasized that stringent protections under Section 19 of the PMLA ensure life and liberty are safeguarded.

The bench clarified that the power to arrest under Section 19(1) should not be used frivolously and that any detainment must be backed by concrete evidence. They underscored that non-disclosure of 'reasons to believe' could impede judicial review, thereby violating constitutional rights.