India, May 27 -- A special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has rejected the discharge application of alleged red sanders smuggler Ajit Satam, who is facing charges of laundering proceeds from the smuggling of 839 metric tonnes of the endangered wood between 2010 and 2011.

Red sanders or red sandalwood is an endangered species found only in south India, especially in Andhra Pradesh.

In an order passed on May 15, special judge A C Daga ruled that there was prima facie evidence indicating Satam's involvement in smuggling activities and in laundering the profits generated. The court observed that Satam had "himself admitted to the generation of proceeds of crime, their layering, and projection as untainted," in his...