The basic contention was the arrest was in breach of Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). In Prabir Purkayastha vs State, the release of the journalist was done based on a realistic application of Article 22 of the Constitution. The judgement said the accused must be provided with the written grounds of arrest as per Section 19(1) of the PMLA. About 76 percent of prisoners in India are undertrials, out of which a good part may be considered ‘political prisoners’. Also, we need a mechanism to probe into the political design behind such entrapments and compensate the victims of an illiberal dispensation, for which a Truth Commission should be formed.

Source: Indian Express May 30, 2024 04:56 UTC