Adarsh scam probe: HC summons ED's special director on Mar 12

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The Bombay High Court on Monday exempted the director of Enforcement Directorate (ED) from personally appearing before it on March 12 and instead summoned the special director along with a status report mentioning the steps that have been taken in the scam-tainted Adarsh Housing Society probe.

A division bench of Justices P.B. Majmudar and R.D. Dhanuka had on February 28, severely castigated the agency for 'serious lapse' on its part and failing to initiate inquiry against the society members for money laundering while summoning the ED Director on March 12.

The investigating agency later filed an application seeking the court to modify its order and permit the special director or joint director to appear before it on given date.

Senior Counsel R.V. Desai appearing for ED told the court that the agency was not shying away from investigations and that the special director or joint director would appear before the court and inform it about the probe.

"The Special Director is a higher official. We summon him along with a status report detailing what steps have been taken or proposed to be taken by ED against erring persons in connection with money laundering," Justice Majmudar said on Monday.

Asking the ED to prosecute all those persons against whom evidence is found, the court said, "We want concrete steps to be taken. CBI has found several members have purchased flats through benami transactions. It is ED's job to look into this."

"A special team has been formed under the supervision of the joint director and the agency is in the process of starting its investigations," Desai told the court.

"Special team should not mean further delay in the investigation. We cannot betray the faith people have instilled in the court," Justice Majmudar said.

The court was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by social activists Simpreet Singh and Pravin Wategaonkar seeking court to supervise the probe and ED to initiate inquiry for money laundering offences.

The court had in the last hearing also directed CBI to submit its progress report.

CBI, which had registered its FIR in the case against 14 persons including former chief minister Ashok Chavan in January last year, had filed an application in High Court seeking time to complete its probe and file chargesheet.

The bench had on last hearing also come down heavily on ED for being a mute spectator and not probing into the case.