Allahabad HC Rejects Belated Challenge to Cognizance in PMLA Case
The Allahabad High Court rejected a petition challenging the taking of cognizance in a money laundering case, ruling that although the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS) mandates a hearing before cognizance, a belated challenge cannot be entertained when the accused has already participated fully in proceedings.
The single bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi noted that the petitioner had appeared before the trial court, participated in charge-framing, cross-examined prosecution witnesses, and had his statement recorded without raising any objection to the denial of pre-cognizance hearing.
The petitioner had challenged a cognizance order from April 2025 under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, contending it violated BNSS Section 223(1) by denying him a hearing opportunity.
