The Hon’ble Court of XLVII Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge (Special Court, PMLA), Bengaluru, has declared John Michael guilty of offenses under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, marking a significant victory against financial malpractice. The ruling, dated April 8, 2024, fined him Rs. 5 lakh and condemned him to five years of hard labor. Additionally, the court ruled that moveable and immovable assets worth Rs. 19.28 lakh that were registered in the names of John Michael and his spouse, Mrs. Manjula Michael, would be seized.
Based on FIRs made by the Karnataka State Police and a charge sheet submitted by the Police Authorities under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, against John Michael and others, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bengaluru, initiated its investigation. Through their investigation, the ED discovered a scheme in which the accused people obtained Rs. 1.45 crore from the complainants and their associates. They sent victims false sale deeds that they said were connected to Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) properties, leading them to believe that the transactions were authentic.
The ED issued two Provisional Attachment Orders on February 28, 2012, and August 6, 2014, to seize immovable and moveable properties valued at Rs. 19.28 Lakh that were identified as proceeds of crime and were registered in John Michael and his wife’s names. The purpose of these orders was to stop the flow of illicit gains. The ED then filed a Prosecution Complaint, dated 17.03.2015, in the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA), Bengaluru, against the couple. Following careful consideration, the court decided to consider the prosecution’s complaint.
The Hon’ble Court rendered its decision on April 8, 2024, after an intense hearing. It found John Michael guilty of the money laundering offense as specified by the PMLA, 2002, which is penalized under section 4 of the same Act. The resolute dedication of law enforcement organizations to combating financial crimes and maintaining the integrity of the judicial system is demonstrated by this verdict.
The story still goes on since John Michael’s wife, Mrs. Manjula Michael, is still at large despite this victory. The ED has filed a separate Prosecution Complaint against her, which is presently undergoing trial, and she is a co-accused in the case. Authorities are resolute in their efforts to guarantee responsibility and prosecute all individuals implicated in financial misconduct, as they continue to pursue justice with unwavering dispatch.
This conviction is a clear reminder to those who participate in illegal financial activity that they will eventually be apprehended by the law. The ED is unwavering in its commitment to preserve the country’s financial integrity and defend the interests of its citizens, even as the wheels of justice continue to spin.
