PMLA Case : SC Will Hear Journalist Rana Ayyub’s Plea Against Lower Court Summon

The Supreme Court on Monday said that it will hear the petition filed by journalist Rana Ayyub on January 25 challenging the summons issued to her by the Ghaziabad court in Uttar Pradesh in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered against her.

Advocate Vrinda Grover brought up the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, stating that although it was scheduled for hearing today, the bench that was supposed to hear the case was not in session. Advocate Grover stated that the Ghaziabad court has issued a summons against Ayyub for January 27 thus, the matter requires an urgent listing.

Earlier, ED had filed a case against Rana Ayyub in the Ghaziabad court in October 2022 for alleged violations in publicly raising funds.

The FIR alleged that she illegally acquired funds from the general public in the name of charity by launching fundraising campaigns.

A complaint against Ayyub that was filed in Ghaziabad in September 2021 under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Amendment Act, and Black Money Act led to the registration of the case by the ED.

It was also alleged in the FIR that Ayyub received donations from abroad without registering under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).