Officers told to get director's approval before sending summons to lawyers: ED
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said it has directed its investigating officers not to issue summons to any advocate in violation of the protection extended to advocate-client privileges under Section 132 of the Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BNS) and stipulated that summons could only be issued to lawyers under the exceptions provided in the law after the director's approval. Enforcement Directorate (FILE IMAGE)
The circular to the federal agency's field formations came hours after ED withdrew the summons issued to two senior lawyers, Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal, after the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA) asked Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai to take up the case.
Section 132 of BNS protects the advocate-client privilege and bars lawyers from disclosing communications between them and their clients. However, the section provides for three exceptions when this protection from disclosure shall not apply.
In a statement, ED said Friday's circular was issued for guidance of field formations on Section 132 of BNS. 'Further if any summons needs to be issued under the exceptions carved out in proviso to Section 132 of the BSA, 2023, the same shall be issued only with the prior approval of the Director, ED,' the agency statement said.
The agency also clarified that the summons were issued to Venugopal in his capacity as independent director of Care Health Insurance Ltd (CHIL), and not as a lawyer.
'In view of the fact that Pratap Venugopal is a Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court, the summons issued to him has been withdrawn and same has been communicated to him,' ED said.
'In the said communication, it has also been stated that if any documents will be required from him in his capacity as an independent director of CHIL, the same will be requested from him to be submitted by email,' the agency said.
The financial crimes probe agency is looking into money laundering allegations in connection with a case in which shares of Care Health Insurance Ltd (CHIL) were issued at a much lower price in the form of ESOPs on May 1, 2022, despite the rejection of the same by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Four held for trespassing into Secunderabad MCEME with fake ID card
HYDERABAD: Four persons were arrested on Friday for allegedly trespassing into the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME) in Secunderabad by using a fake identity card to gain access to the premises on Thursday. Trimulgherry police stated that the accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody on Friday. According to the police, the MCEME authorities lodged a complaint at the Trimulgherry police station on Thursday. Based on the complaint, a case was registered against Rakesh Kumar Naresh Rai, Ashish Kumar, Aaliya Abbshi and Nagma Bano Mahemood Ali under relevant Sections of the BNS including Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), Section 329(3) (criminal trespass), Section 319(2) (cheating by personation), Section 340(2) (dishonestly using a forged document) and Section 168 (wearing garb or carrying token used by a soldier). As per the complaint, at 1 pm, the four accused, including one person posing as an Air Force officer under the name Wing Commander Rajat Kumar Mishra, entered the MI Techno Chowk Gate of MCEME without authorisation. The group comprised four persons: the impersonator and three others — one man and two women. They allegedly produced a fake identity card to the security personnel at the gate. The four were later stopped by sentries at the Jubilee Gate when they were seen clicking photographs and recording videos of sensitive military locations, including the CSD canteen and a soldiers' monument situated along the internal road. The sentries promptly alerted the MCEME Quick Reaction Team, following which the four were detained for questioning. When confronted by military officials, the accused disclosed their identities. The police were informed and subsequently, a case was registered. They were clicking pictures, recording videos The four were stopped by sentries at the Jubilee Gate when they were seen clicking photographs and recording videos of sensitive military locations, including the CSD canteen and a soldiers' monument situated along the internal road
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Newly-wed woman murdered over dowry, husband's family stages it as suicide for not getting Bullet motorcycle in UP
Hyderabad Murder case In a tragic incident, a 22-year-old newlywed woman named Sapna was found dead at her in-laws' house in Uttar Pradesh's Kotwa village, under the Maniyar police station area. The police said her body was discovered hanging from a ceiling fan, suggesting that it may have been staged to look like suicide. According to Maniyar SHO Ratnesh Dubey, the police reached the house as soon as they got the information. Sapna's body was taken into custody and sent for post-mortem at the district hospital to find out the exact cause of death. Sapna had married Narendra Chauhan on March 2, 2025. The police filed a case based on a complaint made by Sapna's maternal grandfather, Babbu Chauhan. In the complaint, he said that Sapna's in-laws had been harassing her for more dowry, even after receiving a significant amount at the time of the wedding. He claimed that Sapna's family had already given Rs 90,000 through bank transfer, Rs 3 lakh in cash, a gold chain, and a ring as dowry. But still, the harassment didn't stop. Her in-laws allegedly began demanding a Bullet motorcycle and another Rs 3 lakh. When Sapna's family couldn't meet these demands, the situation got worse. Her grandfather believes she was murdered, and her death was made to look like suicide by hanging her with a dupatta from a fan hook. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Dowry Prohibition Act. The case names her husband Narendra Chauhan, his sister Champa Devi, and two sisters-in-law Puja Devi and Reena Devi. The three women were arrested and have been sent to judicial custody after completing all legal procedures. The police are still trying to find and arrest Sapna's husband, who is currently missing. (With PTI inputs)
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
UP: Newly-wed woman murdered over dowry, husband's family stages it as suicide
Ballia , Three women were arrested here in connection with the alleged murder of a newly-wed woman over the matter of dowry, officials said on Saturday. UP: Newly-wed woman murdered over dowry, husband's family stages it as suicide Sapna , wife of Narendra Chauhan, was found dead in a room at her in-laws' house in Kotwa village, under the Maniyar Police Station area. Her body was allegedly discovered in a position that suggested suicide, as it was found hanging from a ceiling fan, the police stated. Maniyar Station House Officer Ratnesh Dubey stated that upon receiving the information, the police reached the scene, took custody of Sapna's body, and sent it for post-mortem examination at the district hospital. A case was registered based on the complaint filed by Sapna's maternal grandfather, Babbu Chauhan. "The FIR names her husband, Narendra Chauhan, his sister, Champa Devi, and two sisters-in-law, Puja Devi and Reena Devi. They were booked under sections of the BNS and Dowry Prohibition Act," the SHO said. Citing the registered FIR, SHO Dubey stated that Sapna was married to Narendra Chauhan on March 2, 2025. ₹ 90,000 via bank transfer, ₹ three lakh in cash, along with a gold chain and a ring, were given as dowry to Sapna's in-laws, the complaint mentioned. Despite this, they allegedly continued to harass Sapna, demanding a Bullet motorcycle and an additional ₹ three lakh. When Sapna's family expressed their inability to fulfil these demands, she was allegedly murdered. Her body was then hung by a dupatta from a fan hook in an attempt to stage the death as a suicide, the police said. Champa Devi, Puja Devi and Reena Devi were sent to judicial custody after completing the necessary legal formalities. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to arrest Sapna's husband. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
