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2023 (1) TMI 510 - HC - Money LaunderingSeeking grant of Regular Bail - Money laundering - settlement of the commission and the betting amount was done mainly through hawala operators in cash or through crypto currency with each individual player and the Union Head, by their respective club managers - offences under Sections 3 and 4 of Goa Gambling Act - no scheduled offences against any of the Accused including Applicant Nos. 1 and 2 - HELD THAT:- From definition of proceeds of crime, it clear that when any property, either directly or indirectly, is derived or obtained as a result of any criminal activity relatable to a scheduled offence, it would be “proceeds of crime”. Therefore, for there to be any “proceeds of crime”, the property must be derived or obtained as a result of any criminal activity relatable to a scheduled offence. If any property is obtained or derived as a result of any criminal activity, but which is not relatable to a scheduled offence, then the same cannot be termed as the “proceeds of crime”. When one reads Section 3 of the PMLA, 2002 [offence of money-laundering] together with the definition of the words “proceeds of crime” [Section 2(1)(u)] and “scheduled offence” [Section 2(1)(y)], it is clear that for charging a person with the offence of money-laundering, there has to firstly be a scheduled offence. When any property is derived or obtained, directly or indirectly, by any person as a result of criminal activity relating to a scheduled offence, then such property would be the “proceeds of crime”. When a person directly or indirectly attempts to indulge or knowingly assists or knowingly is a party or is actually involved in any process or activity connected with the proceeds of crime, he is guilty of the offence of money-laundering. Therefore, the sine qua non for Section 3 of the PMLA, 2002 to apply would be the commission of a scheduled offence. If there is no scheduled offence, then Section 3 cannot be pressed into service. As of now, the scheduled offences against the Accused have admittedly been dropped in the chargesheet filed by the Goa Police Crime Branch before the JMFC ‘F’ Court at Mapusa, Goa and the matter is registered as Criminal Case No.AOA/572/2022/F. If there is no scheduled offence, there is no question of any generation of any “proceeds of crime”, and consequently, there can be no offence of money-laundering. In these circumstances, I am satisfied that Applicant Nos. 1 and 2 have made out a case for grant of bail. This decision squarely answers the argument of Mr. Karpe that because there is no order of a court of competent jurisdiction absolving Applicant Nos. 1 and 2 of the scheduled offences, the judgment of Supreme Court in the case of VIJAY MADANLAL CHOUDHARY & ORS. VERSUS UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [2022 (7) TMI 1316 - SUPREME COURT]) is not applicable. This Court correctly held that when the question of liberty of an individual is involved, it is not really possible to completely ignore the acceptance of the C-Summary Report which has the effect of bringing to an end the proceedings registered with the Yellow Gate Police Station pursuant to the filing of the FIR dated 28.10.2020 - Even in the facts of the present case, when the question of liberty of an individual is involved, it is not possible for me to ignore the fact that the chargesheet filed in the present case, as of now, does not relate to any scheduled offence which would give rise to “proceeds of crime”, which in turn, would make out an offence of money-laundering under Section 3 of the PMLA, 2002. Applicant is allowed to be released subject to conditions imposed - bail application allowed.
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