Let's Talk Criminal Law
A blog by
Adv. Sunny Punamiya
On April 5th, 2025, I had the honor of launching my book, The PMLA Evolution: Judgments that Transformed the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, at an event that was both humbling and unforgettable.
The launch was graced by legal luminaries including:
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Hon’ble Justice Shri Ranjit More
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Hon’ble Justice Shri Swatanter Kumar (Retd. Judge, Supreme Court of India)
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Shri Hiten Venegaonkar (Chief Public Prosecutor and Special Counsel for CBI & ED) and
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Shri Pranav Badheka, Senior Counsel and my mentor.
Sharing the stage with such stalwarts was a moment of immense pride. The presence of senior counsels, peers, friends, and family made the occasion truly special.
This book is the result of years of legal thought, courtroom experience, and close study of the evolving jurisprudence under the PMLA. It compiles key judgments and offers practical, accessible insights into one of India’s most complex laws.
Book Launch Event
PMLA Evolution: Judgments that transformed the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002
Authored by Sunny Punamiya
& Published by Thomson Reuters
About The Book
The Book decodes, simplifies and explains the ten judicial pronouncements of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, which were passed after the landmark judgment in the case of Vijay Madanlal Choudhary v. Union of India. The Book extensively covers but at the same simplifies ten Judgments that have revolutionized the law surrounding Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 20021 especially in the context of Arrest, Remand and Bail.
In this book, I’ve broken down the essential components of each judgment, including:
• Prosecution’s Arguments: What the prosecution contended and how they applied provisions of PMLA
• Defence’s Arguments: The counterpoints made by the Defense, focusing on their interpretation of the law.
• Questions Before the Court: The critical legal questions the Hon’ble Court addressed in each case.
• The Court’s Final Decision: A simplified version of the final ruling, with insights into how the Court arrived at its conclusion.
By structuring each chapter in this way, the reader will gain a clear understanding of the background of each case, the key arguments, and the reasoning that shaped the Learned Court’s decision. Moreover, the nuances of PMLA are brought out through the careful examination of the arguments made by Senior counsels, offering a window into the decision-making process.
Key Features of the Book
Key Takeaways for Quick Reference
To enhance understanding, I’ve included a “Key Takeaways” section in an FAQ format at the end of each chapter. This section provides a concise overview of the central issues discussed and the key points of law decided in each case. It serves as a quick reference, allowing readers to grasp the most important aspects of the judgment at a glance.
A Chapter-by-Chapter Journey
Each chapter of this book focuses on a separate judgment, and as you move from one to the next, you’ll find that every case is interconnected. The courts have expanded the meaning, scope, and implications of the terms used in PMLA with each passing judgment, often referencing previous rulings. This continuous thread weaves the judgments together, creating a clear and logical progression in the interpretation of PMLA.
My goal was to make this book read like a story -a journey through the evolution of PMLA law - while still providing the technical analysis that legal professionals, students, and lay readers alike can appreciate.
Some of the Chapters in the Book
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Chapter 1: The Legal Rollercoaster in Y. Senthil Balaji’s Case
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Chapter 2: The “How” of Article 22 of Constitution: Determining the manner of communicating the ‘Grounds of Arrest’ in Pankaj Bansal’s case
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Chapter 7: Upholding the Arrest of Arvind Kejriwal: “Reasons to Believe” & Limits of Relief
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Chapter 7A: Arrest as a Last Resort: The Arvind Kejriwal’s Case and the evolving Landscape of PMLA Arrests
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Chapter 10: The Inter-section of legal principles in Hemant Soren’s Case