INX Media Case: PMLA Appellate Tribunal Upholds ED Attachment Of Karti Chidambaram’s Delhi Property & Bank Accounts

The PMLA Appellate Tribunal upheld the Enforcement Directorate’s provisional attachment of properties and bank accounts belonging to Karti Chidambaram in the INX Media case. The Tribunal found that the assets were prima facie linked to proceeds of crime generated through alleged money laundering under Section 3 of the PMLA. It rejected the petitioner’s contention that the attachments were arbitrary or lacked evidentiary basis, affirming that the ED had sufficient material showing nexus between the assets and criminal activity. The ruling reinforces the ED’s investigative authority and reflects judicial endorsement of its approach in high-profile corruption cases. It also reaffirms that attachment orders serve as preventive measures to preserve proceeds of crime pending adjudication, ensuring effectiveness of anti-laundering legislation.