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Crime
Supreme Court rules gold holdings can't protect DA accused
✍️ The New Indian Express
🗓 13 Nov 2026, 05:17 AM
👁 9
The Supreme Court held that possessing gold within legal limits does not provide immunity to those charged in the DA case.
The apex court delivered a verdict clarifying that ownership of gold within the prescribed legal limits cannot be used as a shield for individuals accused in the DA case.
The bench observed that possession of gold, even if within the limit set by the Gold Control Act, does not constitute a legitimate defence against criminal charges, emphasizing that the law treats the offence and the asset separately.
The judgment came after petitions filed by the accused seeking relief on the ground that their gold holdings were within the permissible quota, a claim the court rejected, stating that the purpose of the law is to prevent misuse of wealth to evade prosecution.
Legal experts noted that the ruling reinforces the principle that wealth cannot be leveraged to obtain immunity, and it may have broader implications for other cases where accused claim financial compliance as a defence.
The decision underscores the Supreme Court's stance on ensuring that criminal liability is determined by the facts of the case rather than the accused's financial status.
The bench observed that possession of gold, even if within the limit set by the Gold Control Act, does not constitute a legitimate defence against criminal charges, emphasizing that the law treats the offence and the asset separately.
The judgment came after petitions filed by the accused seeking relief on the ground that their gold holdings were within the permissible quota, a claim the court rejected, stating that the purpose of the law is to prevent misuse of wealth to evade prosecution.
Legal experts noted that the ruling reinforces the principle that wealth cannot be leveraged to obtain immunity, and it may have broader implications for other cases where accused claim financial compliance as a defence.
The decision underscores the Supreme Court's stance on ensuring that criminal liability is determined by the facts of the case rather than the accused's financial status.