ED cannot revive closed cases through fresh complaints: Karnataka HC

Bengaluru, Nov 7 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court has ruled that the Enforcement Directorate cannot revive a money laundering investigation by filing a fresh private complaint after the underlying criminal case has been closed, drawing a clear boundary around the agency's investigative powers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). In a significant observation with implications for the ED's investigative jurisdiction, Justice MI Arun held that the agency cannot use a separate complaint to overcome the closure of a predicate offence and subsequently launch or sustain money laundering proceedings against the accused. The ruling came while quashing the ED…