Srinagar, Aug. 25 -- The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has dismissed a plea by a non-local company - M/S Reach Dredging Limited - accused of corruption in connection with a flood channel dredging project near the Hokersar Wetland.

The court ruled that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) can still invoke the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against the company despite the repeal of Section 13(1)(d) of the Central Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act.

Justice Sanjay Dhar held that the amended Section 7 of the Central PC Act, broadened in 2018 to cover a wider definition of bribery, now effectively substitutes for the repealed provision, keeping such offences within the Schedule to PMLA.

The company had sought to quash ED summons and th...