The court emphasizes the necessity for the Special Court to expeditiously resolve pending applications under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.S.DIAS TUESDAY, THE 27^TH DAY OF JANUARY 2026 / 7TH MAGHA, 1947 CRL.MC NO. 11387 OF 2025 IN SC CASES (PMLA) NO.4 OF 2023 OF ADDITIONAL SPECIAL SESSIONS COURT (SPE/CBI CASES)-III, ERNAKULAM PETITIONER/23RD ACCUSED:

PAULSON A.J.

AGED 65 YEARS S/O JOHNSON A.D., AKKARAKARAN HOUSE, VALLAKKUNNU, KALLETTUMKARA VILLAGE, KALLETTUMKARA P.O., CHALAKUDY TALUK, THRISSUR DISTRICT., PIN - 680683 BY ADVS.

DR.V.N.SANKARJEE SHRI.V.N.MADHUSUDANAN SMT.R.UDAYA JYOTHI SMT. KEERTHI B. CHANDRAN SHRI.VIJAYAN PILLAI P.K.

SMT.SHILPA P.S.

SHRI.UNNIKRISHNAN H.

SMT.SHRIYA MERLIN MAXWELL RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT:

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, COCHIN ZONAL OFFICE, KANOOS CASTLE, MULLASSERY CANAL ROAD WEST, COCHIN-682 011 (PRESENTLY AT DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT, COCHIN ZONAL OFFICE, A & P ARCADE, S.A.

ROAD, NEAR HPCL DEPOT, KADAVANTHRA, KOCHI)., PIN -

682306 SC.SRI. JAISHANKAR V. NAIR. PP. SRI.M.P.PRASANTH THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON

27.01.2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:

C.S.DIAS, J.

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Crl.M.C.No.11387 of 2025 ------------------------------------------------

Dated this the 27^th day of January, 2026

ORDER

The petitioner is the 23^rd accused in S.C.(PMLA)

No.4 of 2023 on the file of the Special Court constituted under Section 43 (1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act , 2002 – Court of Session (SPE/CBI)-III), Ernakulam (‘Special Court’, for brevity).

2. The Criminal Miscellaneous Case is filed to quash Annexure A1 complaint, Annexure A14 supplementary complaint and to direct the Special Court to consider and dispose Annexures A11 and A12 applications filed by the petitioner for return of his properties and for return of his documents, respectively.

3. I have heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent.

4. The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent submits that the petitioner has already filed Crl.M.P. No.600 of 2025 (Annexure A10) seeking for his discharge in the crime. It is during the pendency of the discharge application that the petitioner has moved this Crl.M.C.

On a consideration of facts and materials on record, particularly that Annexures A10, A11 and A12 applications are pending consideration before the Special Court since 29.11.2025, without expressing anything in the merits of the matter, I dispose of this Crl.M.C by directing the Special Court to consider and dispose of the above applications, in accordance with law, after permitting the respondents to file their objection to applications within one month from today, and after affording both sides an opportunity of being heard, at any rate within three months from date of production of a copy of this order.

Sd/-