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Arthashastra, Inquisi8on and PMLA

References:

1. PartII,Chapter90,KautiliyaArthashastram.Tr.Dr.ShyamleshKr.Tiwari(Chaukhamba,2020)

2. TheBusinessoftheRomanInquisitionintheEarlyModernEra.GermanoMaifreda(Routledge,2017)

3. Sec.3,4,chapterIIIofPreventionofMoneyLaunderingAct,2002(PMLA)

4. Capsules566,567,570

WhatdoChanakya’sArthashastra,EuropeanInquisitionandmodernPMLAhaveincommon?Thefirstwaswrittenabout2,300yearsago.Thesecondstartedabout800yearsago.Andthethirdisquiterecent,legislatedin2002.InArthashastra,AcharyaChanakyadealswithacommonproblem:akingwho’srunningoutofmoney.Hisadvice?Framerichpeopleforcrimes,sothekingcanseizealltheirproperty,anduseittorefillthetreasury.Duringmedievaltimes,Inquisitorsfacedasimilarproblem:howtopayfortherunningexpensesoftheHolyOfficeofInquisition?Eventuallyalawfulsolutionemerged:appropriatethepropertyofanyrichpeopleaccusedofheresy,anduseittopayforTribunal’soverheads.ThemodernStatehasitsownfinancialchallenges.Andhereagain,thelawcomestoitsrescue.PMLAallowstheStatetoattachthepropertyofanypersonaccusedofa‘predicateoffence’.Theoffencecanbeanything—rangingfromrealmoneylaunderingtothatofacceptingforeigndonationsunlawfully.Thepropertycanthenbeconfiscated.Oncethatisdone,theStatecanuseitforanylawfulobject,whetherfinancingadeficitbudgetorlaunchingnewprojects.

Dated: 23-Nov-2021

Capsule 575