New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday stayed till March 19 the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate to former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case.
A division bench of Justices Siddarth Mridul and Hairam Bhambhani directed the ED not to insist Ms Mufti’s presence on March 15 in the case until the next date of hearing on March 19.
On Tuesday, Mehbooba had challenged the ED on the constitutional validity of Section 50 and other provisions of the PMLA Act, 2002, which empowers the authorities to summon any person to give evidence.
“As a responsible member of society, the petitioner is always ready and willing to aid the process of law. However, it is equally her duty to bring to the notice of this Court, deviations from due process in legislative and executive acts,” her plea contended.
The ED has not specified the charges in which she was summoned.
The Peoples Democratic Party leader was released from detention after over a year on October 13. She was in detention under the Public Safety Act since August 5, 2019 – the day the Centre revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, and bifurcated it into Union Territories.
