Punishment for vexatious search
Section 62 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002 deals with punishment for vexatious search. Any authority or officer exercising powers under this Act or any rules made thereunder, who, without reasons recorded in writing,-- (a) searches or causes to be searched any building or place; The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2005.
Any authority or officer exercising powers under this Act or any rules made thereunder, who, without reasons recorded in writing,--
(a) searches or causes to be searched any building or place; or
(b) detains or searches or arrests any person,
shall for every such offence be liable on conviction for imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or both.
Section 62, 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.
Referred to by 1
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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Ram Kishor Arora vs Directorate of Enforcement
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Where an authorized officer under Section 19(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, arrests a person and informs him orally about the grounds of arrest at the time of arrest, and subsequently furnishes a written communication about the grounds of arrest within twenty-four hours (as soon as may be), such action constitutes sufficient compliance with both Section 19(1) of PMLA and Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India. The requirement to furnish a written copy of grounds of arrest as a matter of course and without exception, as mandated in Pankaj Bansal judgment, applies prospectively from the date of that judgment (henceforth) and not retrospectively to arrests made before that date. A three-judge bench decision on a point of law is binding on a two-judge bench, and any two-judge bench decision that deviates from a three-judge bench decision on the same point falls in the category of per incuriam.
On this section: Punishment for vexatious action by authorized officers
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 names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 62
What have the courts held on Section 62 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act?
Ram Kishor Arora vs Directorate of Enforcement (15 Dec 2023) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Punishment for vexatious action by authorized officers.
How do I find court cases under Section 62 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 62, section 62 Pmla, section 62 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act. People searching for it also type 62 pmla. 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 Ram Kishor Arora vs Directorate of Enforcement (15 Dec 2023).
What should I read with Section 62 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, and has it changed?
1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it. One instrument names it without being made under it, most recently Notification appointing Director of Enforcement (2005).
When did Section 62 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act come into force?
Section 62 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, cited as Pmla 62, 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 17 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.