Powers of authorities regarding summons, production of documents and to give evidence, etc
Section 50 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002 deals with powers of authorities regarding summons, production of documents and to give evidence, etc. The Director shall, for the purposes of section 13, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) while trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:-- (a) discovery and inspection; The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2005.
(1) The Director shall, for the purposes of section 13, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) while trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:--
(a) discovery and inspection;
(b) enforcing the attendance of any person, including any officer of a 1[reporting entity] and examining him on oath;
(c) compelling the production of records;
(d) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(e) issuing commissions for examination of witnesses and documents; and
(f) any other matter which may be prescribed.
(2) The Director, Additional Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director or Assistant Director shall have power to summon any person whose attendance he considers necessary whether to give evidence or to produce any records during the course of any investigation or proceeding under this Act.
(3) All the persons so summoned shall be bound to attend in person or through authorised agents, as such officer may direct, and shall be bound to state the truth upon any subject respecting which they are examined or make statements, and produce such documents as may be required.
(4) Every proceeding under sub-sections (2) and (3) shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of section 193 and section 228 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
(5) Subject to any rules made in this behalf by the Central Government, any officer referred to in sub-section (2) may impound and retain in his custody for such period, as he thinks fit, any records produced before him in any proceedings under this Act:
Provided that an Assistant Director or a Deputy Director shall not--
(a) impound any records without recording his reasons for so doing; or
(b) retain in his custody any such records for a period exceeding three months, without obtaining the previous approval of the 2[Joint Director].
Section 50, The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002 (Act 15 of 2003).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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K. Pramod Reddy vs The Assistant Director-pmla
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The Assistant Director of the Directorate of Enforcement, being duly appointed under the Central Government's Gazette Notification, is a competent authority to issue summons under Section 50(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. During the preliminary investigation stage, such summons is legal and not arbitrary. A person summoned for investigation is not yet an accused and therefore cannot claim absolute immunity from self-incrimination under Article 20(3) of the Constitution. The person is bound to answer questions that do not materially incriminate him in pending or imminent investigations. The court should not intervene in the preliminary investigation stage of PMLA proceedings.
On this section: Court analyzed the powers of the Director, Additional Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director, and Assistant Director to summon any person for investigation or proceedings. Court held that Section 50(2) clearly empowers these officers to summon persons whose attendance is considered necessary. Section 50(3) makes such persons bound to state truth. Section 50(4) deems proceedings as judicial proceedings under IPC Sections 193 and 228.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument states that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Another 1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 50
What have the courts held on Section 50 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act?
K. Pramod Reddy vs The Assistant Director-pmla (27 Apr 2012) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Court analyzed the powers of the Director, Additional Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director, and Assistant Director to summon any person for investigation or proceedings. Court held that Section 50(2) clearly empowers these officers to summon persons whose attendance is considered necessary. Section 50(3) makes such persons bound to state truth. Section 50(4) deems proceedings as judicial proceedings under IPC Sections 193 and 228.
How do I find court cases under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Pmla 50, section 50 Pmla, section 50 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act. People searching for it also type pmla 50 2 and section 50 pmla act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with K. Pramod Reddy vs The Assistant Director-pmla (27 Apr 2012).
What should I read with Section 50 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on Indian Penal Code 228 (Intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceeding), section 13 (Powers of Director to impose fine), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there is one: most recently Notification appointing Director of Enforcement (2005).
When did Section 50 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act come into force?
Section 50 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, cited as Pmla 50, came into force on 01 Jul 2005, having been enacted on 17 Jan 2003. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions1773 words
- 8. Adjudication975 words
- 6. Adjudicating Authorities, composition, powers, etc781 words
- 73. Power to make rules704 words
- 17. Search and seizure570 words
- 5. Attachment of property involved in money-laundering570 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.