The Bombay High Court has recently directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to not take any coercive action against former Maharashtra Minister and National Congress Party (NCP) leader Hasan M. Mushrif in a money laundering case.

A Division Bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Sharmila U. Deshmukh said, “In order to enable the petitioner to approach the trial Court, we direct the respondent No.1-ED not to take any coercive action against the petitioner, for a period of two weeks from today. … If an application for anticipatory bail is filed by the petitioner, the learned Judge to decide the ad-interim/interim prayer seeking pre-arrest bail at the earliest, and in any event, within the said period of two weeks.”

The Bench has listed the matter next on April 11, 2023.

Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda appeared for the petitioner while ASG Anil Singh and APP J.P. Yagnik appeared for the respondents.

In this case, the petitioner sought quashing of a matter investigated by the ED. By way of interim relief, the petitioner prayed that no coercive action be taken by the respondent against him in connection with the same.

The High Court in the above regard observed, “During this period of protection, the petitioner to attend the ED Office, as and when summoned. … We make it clear that we have not gone into the merits of the petition and as such all contentions of all parties are kept open.”

Accordingly, the Court issued necessary directions.

Cause Title- Hasan M. Mushrif v. Enforcement Directorate, Mumbai & Anr.

Click here to read/download the Order

Bombay HCJustice Revati Mohite DereJustice Sharmila U. DeshmukhMoney Laundering

Swasti Chaturvedi