PTI, NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today extended the interim relief from arrest granted by the Delhi High Court to Karti Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case till March 26 and said it would clear the “confusion” which has crept in due to divergent views of different high courts on ED’s power to arrest.
The apex court also transferred to itself the matters pending before the Delhi High Court relating to the power of Enforcement Directorate (ED) to arrest in money laundering cases and also a plea filed by Karti seeking protection from arrest in ED’s case.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the top court would answer the question about interpretation of section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) relating to ED’s power to arrest and also deal with the issue whether high courts can grant protection from arrest in a plea under Article 226 of the Constitution which deals with high court’s power to issue writs and orders.
“There is some kind of confusion in the high courts. The Delhi High Court has referred it (issue pertaining to ED’s power to arrest) to its larger bench but it will not be binding for other courts,” the bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said.
The court observed this after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, referred to the orders passed by different high courts, including Delhi and Bombay, on the issue.
When the apex court was informed that the Delhi High Court has extended till March 22 the interim protection from arrest to Karti in the money laundering case, the bench said it would transfer to itself the matters pending there and hear the arguments on them on March 26.
