Presumed Guilty: Reimagining the PMLA’s Enforcement Architecture

The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has evolved into a potent mechanism for enforcement, but in doing so, it has introduced a legal framework that reverses core procedural guarantees. This article critiques the PMLA’s enforcement architecture, comparing it with the legal standards of the United Kingdom and the United States, and identifies significant due process deficits—particularly regarding the presumption of innocence, the right to silence, and safeguards against self-incrimination. The article concludes by arguing that effective law enforcement must be harmonized with civil liberties and offers a roadmap for structural reforms.