The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 is one of the most complex statutes in Indian law. Proceedings under PMLA involve multiple stages — from attachment of assets and summons under Section 50 to trial before Special Courts and appeals before the PMLA Appellate Tribunal. At each stage, the applicable law is technical, the timelines are strict, and the consequences of inadequate representation can be severe.
Shams Legal LLP brings a perspective to PMLA defense that is genuinely rare. Our founder, Dr. Shamsuddin, was a core member of the committee that drafted both the PMLA Bill of 1998 and the revised 1999 version, which led to the enactment of the Act. He subsequently served as Legal Advisor and Additional Director (Prosecution) in the Enforcement Directorate — the primary agency responsible for PMLA enforcement. This means we understand not only how the law reads but how it is applied, investigated, and prosecuted.
We represent clients in PMLA matters at all stages: responding to summons, challenging attachment orders, appearing before the Adjudicating Authority, filing appeals before the PMLA Appellate Tribunal, and representing accused persons before Special Courts. We also advise clients on the interaction between PMLA proceedings and related criminal proceedings, including those under the Indian Penal Code and other statutes.