New Delhi, January 25, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Indian Supreme Court has said that it will hear on January 31, a plea by journalist Rana Ayyub against the summonses issued by a Ghaziabad court in connection with a case registered against her under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The top Indian court asked the Ghaziabad court to adjourn the hearing on January 27 and scheduled it after January 31.

Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing Ayyub, submitted before a bench comprising justices Krishna Murari and V. Ramasubramanian, that petitioner has been summoned by a Ghaziabad court and sought a stay on the coercive proceedings. The counsel argued that she is challenging the jurisdiction and cognizance of this case by PMLA court in Uttar Pradesh and added no part of the offence occurred there. Grover said the liberty of her client is at stake, and questioned whether ED be allowed to drag her to any court in the country.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, opposed her submissions. After hearing arguments, the bench said it will hear the case on January 31 and in the meantime Ghaziabad special court is requested to adjourn the hearing fixed on January 27 to a date after January 31. The ED, in October last year, had filed a fake charge sheet against Ayyub, accusing her of cheating the public and utilising charity funds worth Rs 2.69 crore for creating her personal assets, and what they claim also violating the foreign contribution law. Ayyub moved the apex court seeking quashing of the proceedings initiated by the ED.

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