2025 (1) TMI 80 - SCH - Money Laundering

Seeking issuance of ex-parte ad-interim order directing the Respondents not to access and copy the contents of Mobile phone of the Applicant No. 2 - issuance of ex-parte ad-interim order staying the effect and operation of summons under Section 50 of the PMLA issued to the Applicant No.2 and the summons - HELD THAT - Issue notice on the application seeking interim relief, returnable on 17th February, 2025.

Summary

The Supreme Court of India, with Hon'ble Justices Abhay S. Oka and Pankaj Mithal presiding, issued an order in response to a petition. The petitioners were represented by senior advocates Mr. C.A. Sundaram and Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, among others. The respondents did not appear.

The Court ordered the issuance of a notice and decided that the case would be heard alongside Writ Petition (Civil) No.1081 of 2022 and other related cases. Additionally, the Court issued a notice on the application seeking interim relief, returnable by February 17, 2025.

Pending the final decision, the Court granted ad-interim relief as per the petitioners' request. Specifically, the Court issued an ex-parte ad-interim order prohibiting the respondents from accessing and copying the contents of an iPhone 15 Pro and other electronic devices listed in Annexure P-3. Furthermore, the Court stayed the effect and operation of summons under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) that required the presence of certain individuals for data extraction from their digital devices.