2020 Delhi Riots: HC rejects Tahir Hussain's plea against framing of money laundering charges
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court on Thursday rejected a petition by former AAP leader Tahir Hussain challenging framing of money laundering charges against him in the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
"The petition and the accompanying applications are declined," said Justice Anu Malhotra.
The judge had reserved the order on Hussain's plea on November 15.
The plea challenged a trial court's November 3 order by which charges for the alleged offence under Sections 3 (offence of money laundering) and 4 (punishment for the offence of money laundering) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) were framed against him.
Hussain argued before the high court that no property or proceeds of crime was seized from him to justify framing of charges under the anti-money laundering law.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed his challenge, contending that Hussain was part of a conspiracy to fund the riots by using the proceeds of crime.
The trial court had said in its order that prima facie Hussain conspired to engage in money laundering and the proceeds generated from the crime were used for the riots.
The agency claimed Hussain had paid for engineering the riots and that there was a criminal conspiracy to fund the communal conflagration.
According to the ED complaint, Hussain fraudulently withdrew money from the bank accounts of companies owned or controlled by him through bogus entry operators on the strength of fake bills.
Hussain was the ultimate beneficiary of the laundered money and the funds obtained through criminal conspiracy were put to use during the riots in February 2020, the ED complaint alleged.
Delhi Police have registered three FIRs against Hussain and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the riots.
Based on the FIRs, inquiries were initiated and the ED registered an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) on March 9, 2020.
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CJI Chandrachud urges voters not to miss voting in 2024 general elections
New Delhi (PTI): Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has urged citizens not to miss the opportunity to vote in the general elections, saying that it is the "foremost duties" in a constitutional democracy.
In a video message for the Election Commission’s 'My Vote My Voice' mission for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Justice Chandrachud said, "We are citizens of the world's largest democracy, which is our country.”
"The Constitution gives us a multitude of rights as citizens but it also expects that each of us performs the duty, which is cast upon us. And one of the foremost duties of citizenship is to cast a vote in a constitutional democracy," he said.
"I will request every one of you please do not miss this opportunity to vote responsibly as citizens of our great motherland. Five minutes, every five years for our nation. It's doable, isn't it? Let's vote with pride. My vote, my voice," the CJI said.
Justice Chandrachud said the citizens have a participatory role in electing the government and that is why it is said that "this government is a government of the people, by the people and for the people".
He recalled his excitement as the first time voter and queuing up at the polling booth to exercise the franchise.
"The ink on the finger when I vote allows tremendous feelings of patriotism and association with the nation...," he said.
"So our Constitution and our law provides for one citizen, one vote and one value. I think that's the great tenacity and the power of our nation as a constitutional democracy," he said.
The CJI said he never missed that duty to cast his vote when he was a lawyer and had to run around for work.
The Lok Sabha elections will be held from April 19 to June 1, 2024 to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha.
The elections will be held in seven phases and the results will be announced on June 4. 2024.
