The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned an argument raised by Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthilbalaji, who is facing money-laundering charges in the cash-for-jobs scam, that investigation should be completed in a money-laundering case before arrest of an accused person.
The Minister said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) could not seek police remand after arrest. Judicial remand, and not police custody, was the natural corollary of arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), he contended. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mr. Senthilbalaji, has contended that the PMLA required the ED to collect evidence, complete its inquiry and find a person prima facie guilty before finally arresting him under Section 19.
