New Delhi, Feb 7: In a huge setback to the so-called journalist Rana Ayyub, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by her challenging the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case being proceeded against her before a Ghaziabad court .

 

The writ petition was against the summons issued by a Ghaziabad court in connection with a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

 

The top court said the question where the offence of money laundering took place is a “question of fact” to be decided during the trial.

 

Notably, a case of money laundering has been lodged against her by the Enforcement Directorate in Ghaziabad. Earlier in January, the Supreme Court had reserved its judgement. Advocate Vrinda Grover appearing on behalf of Rana had claimed that the Uttar Pradesh court had no jurisdiction since no part of offence was committed in the state.

 

The ED had submitted before the Supreme Court that donation fraud accused Rana Ayyub had used money sought for slum dwellers, COVID-19, and some work in Assam for “personal enjoyment, luxuries and pleasure”.

 

  

The ED charge sheet was filed under section 45 read with section 44 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. On October 12 last year, the ED had filed a charge sheet against Ayyub, accusing her of cheating the public and using ₹2.69 crore she got in charity for creating personal assets, and also violating the foreign contribution law.

  

"Rana Ayyub launched three fundraiser charity campaigns on the 'Ketto' platform, starting from April 2020 and collected funds totalling ₹2,69,44,680," the ED had said in a statement.

 

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), opposed a writ petition filed by Ayyub before a bench of Justices V Ramasubramanian and J B Pardiwala.