Plea against PMLA summons dismissed

HYDERABAD: The High Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the issuance of summons to a petitioner under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and declared that a person called upon to make a statement before authorities cann’t be said to be an accused of an offence.  Assistant director (PMLA) of the directorate of enforcement issued summons to K Pramod Reddy after he had been charge-sheeted by the police, and asked him to appear in person before him with relevant documents. Registration of crime for offences punishable under Sections 406 and 420 of IPC and filing of a report before the court concerned by the police under Section 173 of CrPC alleging money transaction of more than Rs 30 lakh were the prima facie reasons for the police to transfer the case to the enforcement directorate for investigation.Pramod Reddy filed the writ alleging that when he appeared before him with all documents the PMLA official had asked him to write down all the questions posed to him and the answers dictated to him. When he was reluctant to do so, the official threatened him with arrest. The official asked him to appear before him again for ‘further investigation’, Reddy alleged. Justice Ashutosh Mohunta, in his order, opined that there was no need to go into the merits of the case and the petition related only to whether issuance of summons under the provisions of the Act was legal. The official was only conducting preliminary probe as sought by the police.