Mumbai: Special PMLA Court Allows ED To Use Photocopies Of Documents Destroyed In 2025 Office Fire
Mumbai, October 13, 2026: Observing that fire is an unnatural calamity beyond human control, the special PMLA court allowed the prosecution to rely on photocopies of original documents that were lost in a fire that broke out at the ED office in April 2025. The special PMLA court was hearing the money laundering case registered by the ED in 2017 against Kritika Dahal, owner of International…
Mumbai's special PMLA court permitted the prosecution to use photocopies of documents destroyed in a fire at the ED office in April 2025 for a money laundering case registered against Kritika Dahal in 2017. The fire caused destruction of original records and evidence in multiple cases. The prosecution argued that photocopies, while mechanically prepared, were accurate and ensured the authenticity of the documents.
However, the defense contested the prosecution's argument, stating that they had not proven the loss of documents was due to negligence or that the records were in the custody of the ED. The court ruled in favor of the prosecution, allowing them to present secondary evidence due to the unusual and uncontrollable nature of the fire.
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