Back
ORISSA HIGH COURT
KUNTALA PANDA – Appellant
Versus
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (PMLA) ENFORCEMENT DIRECTORATE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA – Respondent
Judgment :
Sanjeeb K Panigrahi, J.
1. The petitioner is assailing the order dated 27.01.2025 passed by the learned Special Judge (CBI-I), Bhubaneswar, rejecting the application filed by the petitioner under Section 205 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 in Crl. Misc. (PMLA) Case No. 11 of 2024.
I. FACTUAL MATRIX OF THE CASE
2. The brief facts of the case are as follows:
i. An FIR was registered by Koraput Vigilance, being P.S. Case No. 11 of 2012, for offences punishable under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
ii. Pursuant thereto, Charge Sheet No. 15 of 2018 dated 27.07.2018 was submitted before the learned Special Judge (Vigilance), Jeypore, Koraput.
iii. Subsequently, the Enforcement Directorate initiated proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, by registering ECIR No. ECIR/BBSZO/14/2020 dated 31.03.2020.
iv. Thereafter, a complaint was filed by the Assistant Director, Enforcement Directorate, before the learned Special Judge (CBI-I), Bhubaneswar, under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, alleging commission of the offence of money laundering as defined under Section 3 and punis
Judicial discretion under Section 205 Cr.P.C. must balance an accused's personal circumstances against case seriousness; exemption from appearance can be granted if sufficient cause is shown.
The court ruled that the exercise of judicial discretion under Section 205 of the Code of Criminal Procedure must consider the age and health of the petitioner when deciding on personal appearance ex....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the interpretation and application of Section 205 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in granting exemption from personal appearance based on the ser....
The court has discretion to exempt an accused from personal appearance based on individual circumstances, particularly health and age, ensuring trial efficiency.
Exemption from personal appearance – Discretion to dispense with personal appearance should be exercised in rare cases but still it would be allowed to those accused who could not come to court due t....
Point of Law : Provisions requiring the presence of the accused which mandate that the trial be held in his presence are enacted for the benefit of the accused.
The court emphasized that the power to grant exemption from personal appearance under Sections 205 and 317 Cr.P.C. should be exercised liberally, especially when the accused has undertaken to appear ....
The court established that the power to dispense with personal attendance under Section 205 of the Cr.P.C. should be exercised with sound discretion, considering the nature of the charges, the status....
Judicial discretion under Section 205 Cr.P.C. allows personal appearance exemptions in summary proceedings, ensuring fair trial processes while accommodating the accused's circumstances.
An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers
Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance
Scan Me!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :
Back to top
