Kerala's Legal Tug-of-War: Hawala Heist Case Controversy

Kerala police oppose the ED's bid to transfer the Kodakara hawala money heist case to a PMLA court, citing jurisdictional overreach. The case involves a 2021 highway robbery in Kodakara where Rs 3.5 crore was allegedly stolen. Police argue the case is distinct from the ED's purview.

The Kerala police have challenged an Enforcement Directorate (ED) move to transfer the high-profile Kodakara hawala money heist case to a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). They claim it is an unwarranted attempt to meddle with the ongoing case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Deputy SP V K Raju, the leading investigator, argues that the ED lacks jurisdiction as the offences in question differ from those presented by the central agency. His affidavit insists that only a court which has officially recognized the scheduled offence can authorize a transfer to the PMLA special court.

Raju emphasizes the significant progress in the trial and warns that ED's involvement may prejudice the prosecution's efforts. Meanwhile, the ED argues for concurrent trials, aiming to link the hawala money with broader money laundering activities. The case traces back to a brazen highway robbery in April 2021, targeting election campaign funds.