Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday dropped contempt proceedings against an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer. The proceedings were initiated on Monday after a bench of Justices AS Gadkari and Kamal Khata caught the officer talking on her phone inside the courtroom during court proceedings.
The bench was hearing four petitions filed by Gujarat-based businessmen Hanif Kashambhai Shekh, Dhiren Shah and Malay Bhow, along with one filed by Nivruti Kedar. The petitions challenged the ED’s investigation against them in an alleged stock market manipulation and money laundering case.
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The petitioners had sought the cancelling of ED proceedings, including the investigation, attachment and freezing of assets, and any Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them.
During Monday’s hearing, Deputy Director Namrata Singh of the ED’s Zone 1 office was present in court. While standing behind the lawyers, she started speaking on her phone.
The bench pulled her up for her conduct and observed that the arrogance she displayed stemmed from power. “These officers are filled with arrogance, and it comes from power,” the bench said.
Although Namrata Singh apologised, the court noted that her apology showed no remorse and initiated contempt proceedings against her.
On Tuesday, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh, appearing for the ED, assured the court that Namrata Singh would never repeat such conduct.
However, Anil Singh acknowledged that this was not the first time Namrata Singh had appeared in court. The bench observed that this showed she was well aware of the decorum that needed to be maintained in a courtroom.
Considering that the ASG was making a “sincere request”, the court decided to drop the contempt proceedings.
The ED had initiated proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on two FIRs registered in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, in March 2026. The FIRs alleged cheating in connection with stock market transactions.
However, closure reports were subsequently filed in both cases, describing the dispute as civil in nature.
The petitions alleged that despite the closure reports and the absence of a predicate offence, the ED went ahead and registered its case. The Rajasthan High Court also permitted the withdrawal of both FIRs on October 28, the petitions stated.
Arguing that no scheduled offence or proceeds of crime survived, the petitioners sought an interim stay on the ED investigation and protection from coercive action.
On Tuesday, the court also granted interim relief to the petitioners by staying the investigation against them and directing that no coercive action be taken against them.
This followed a submission by the ED that the petitioners’ names did not figure in its ECIR, which is akin to an FIR.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
