The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to stay the summons issued against former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case against her.
A division bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh while posting the matter for further hearing on April 16, directed the Respondent authorities to file a compilation of the judgments they would be relying upon.
The petition filed by Mufti challenged the vires of Section 50 of the PMLA, which empowers ED officers to summon any person to give evidence or produce records. All persons summoned are bound to answer questions put to them, and to produce documents as required by ED officers, failing which they can be penalized under the PMLA.
Appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta apprised the court that Mufti just has to appear before the agency.
Whereas, Mufti in her petition submitted, “The petitioner apprehends that the summons is a means of bringing undue pressure and harassment upon her and therefore, the petitioner wishes to assert her constitutional rights in this regard.”
As per sources in the Enforcement Directorate, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister has been served a fresh notice directing her to appear before it on March 22.
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