Tribunal Upholds 180-Day Extension for Seized Property Due to COVID-19; Validates Single-Member Adjudicating Authority Under PMLA Section 20(3.

The Appellate Tribunal addressed two key issues: 1) The duration for which property can be retained u/s 20(3) of PMLA, 2002, and 2) The constitution of the Adjudicating Authority. The Tribunal found that the Adjudicating Authority exceeded the 180-day limit for retaining seized property due to Covid-19 related extensions. Citing precedents, the Tribunal ruled that the excluded period from 15.03.2020 to 28.02.2022 should not count towards the 180-day limit. Additionally, it upheld the competence of a single-member bench as the Adjudicating Authority based on judgments from Calcutta High Court and Telangana High Court. The appeal was dismissed for lacking merit. .....

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