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I read an extremely urgent and important intervention by Pratap Bhanu Mehta in the Indian Express this morning where he calls the Prevention of Money laundering a 'Kafka-esque law'. He observes "The code has an exceptional procedure of its own that can trump the safeguards of the Criminal Code of Procedure. Now imagine further that the punishments under this law may potentially be excessively punitive, in disproportion to the crime. Imagine further that you have to prove your innocence. Imagine that the process is the punishment, where your assets can be seized, your life turned upside down, till the proceedings are complete. In theory, the law provides safeguards against attaching properties, but those safeguards are weak and do not allow for even reasonable exceptions that might be necessary for your dignity or continuing with your business or livelihood. Imagine that mere possession of the proceeds of a crime, without any surrounding consideration of how you came to be in possession of the proceeds, makes it an offence. Imagine further that the state officials you are dealing with are not classed as police. But they, in some respects, have even more power than the police. You see it cannot be a police state if the police are not the ones harassing you."

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On the 27th of July, a Supreme Court bench led by Justice Khanwilkar upheld draconian powers to arrest under the Prevention of Money laundering placing the burden of proof on the accused. Will a law that was meant to stop terror activities now be used to increasingly prosecute the critics of the regime ? Ask me your questions, apprehensions here

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Jul 28, 2022·edited Jul 28, 2022Author

Ask yourself when was the last time you heard of a high profile ED and money laundering investigation ? Rahul Gandhi, Anil Deshmukh, Nawab Malik, Sonia Gandhi, the Thackerays, Karti Chidambaram, Sanjay Raut, Aishwarya Rai, News Click, leaders of parties critical of Narendra Modi. At least four top news editors and publishers of mainstream news publications have confessed to getting ED summons and money laundering probes. On expected lines, many of these publications have 'toned down' their coverage and criticism of Modi

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Kapil Sibal, one of the petitioners in the case before the Supreme Court had observed "In addition, the accused can be summoned for investigation into allegations of money laundering. These procedures allow for a fishing-and-roving enquiry since the ED does not have sufficient proof of money laundering before it launches its investigation. Yet, it has the power to attach properties even before the predicate offence is fully investigated.

The fact that the conviction rate of prosecutions by the ED is extremely low is a matter of record. Clearly, the PMLA is simply an instrument of harassment used by the government to target the opposition and those who raise their voices against it. While we call ourselves a democracy, the manner in which this law is misused is entirely undemocratic."

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While you are here, please read this exhaustive on the ground report from Scroll on the misuse of ED

How the Modi government has weaponised the ED to go after India’s Opposition

https://scroll.in/article/1027571/how-the-modi-government-has-weaponised-the-ed-to-go-after-indias-opposition

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क्या संविधान के चारो स्तंभ जर्जर हो चुके हैं?

महंगाई, बेरोजगारी जैसे मुद्दों में जनता में रोष न होना इसके लिए पत्रकारिता को कितना जिम्मेदार समझती हैं आप

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Why did u not speak up Rana, when Nupur J Sharma was forced to leave West Bengal due to threats against her because of her journalism in opindia? Where were u then?? Her criticism of Mamata Banerjee made the Bengal police harass nupur and her family. Y did u not speak up?????? Why r u such a hypocrite?????

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I want to thank Rana Ayyub for this excellent opportunity to share some news items/articles and her thoughts with us at this very important time when journalism all over the world is facing serious challenges. We the citizens are who are losing out when we do not get accurate reports. If we cant appreciate her generosity to share this with us it is our loss. Trolling will make no difference to the narratives being created, it is just a lost opportunity. We have so much to learn from what she puts out and by asking her respectful questions. Without that being the goal, it is a waste of time because you are not contributing anything to her discussion nor learning anything from this brave journalist.

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Ma'am, Does it cross your mind better to be like other "journalists" in India and make a comfortable living rather than fighting everyday?

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As an Arabian , i don't have full image about what is happening in India , my question is there limits for BJP persecution which is committing against Muslims, does BJP target the existence of Muslims? , are they planning for religion cleansing?

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When are you moving to Pakistan ?

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