Sabarimala Gold Theft Case: Magistrate’s Order Denying FIR Copy to ED Quashed; Fresh Application Must Establish Proceeds of Crime: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has set aside the Ranni Magistrate Court’s decision that denied the Directorate of Enforcement access to the First Information Report and First Information Statement in the Crime Branch probe relating to the high-profile Sabarimala gold theft case. The decision clarifies how jurisdiction under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) interacts with access to records of predicate offences. Background Of The ED Application The Directorate of…