The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has withdrawn its summons issued to Senior Advocate Pratap Venugopal after the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) protested against the move. The ED had summoned Venugopal in connection with a money laundering case, but the SCBA termed the summons as an “attempt to intimidate and harass” the senior advocate.
The SCBA had expressed its strong objection to the summons, stating that it was an “unwarranted and unjustified” action against a respected member of the legal fraternity. The association had also raised concerns about the ED’s jurisdiction to issue summons to a lawyer in a matter that does not involve any financial transaction or money laundering activity.
In response to the SCBA’s protest, the ED has now withdrawn the summons, stating that it will not pursue the matter further. The withdrawal of the summons is seen as a victory for the SCBA and the legal community, which had rallied behind Venugopal in support.
The controversy began when the ED issued a summons to Venugopal, asking him to appear before it in connection with a money laundering case. The summons was widely criticized by the legal community, with many viewing it as an attempt to silence and intimidate advocates who take on high-profile cases.
The SCBA had argued that the ED’s action was an “overreach” of its authority and an attempt to “arm-twist” advocates. The association had also pointed out that Venugopal was not a party to the case and had not been involved in any financial transaction or money laundering activity.
The withdrawal of the summons is likely to be seen as a setback for the ED, which has been facing criticism for its handling of high-profile cases. The agency has been accused of being used as a tool to harass and intimidate opponents of the government, and the controversy surrounding Venugopal’s summons has only added to these concerns.
The SCBA has welcomed the ED’s decision to withdraw the summons, stating that it is a victory for the legal community and the principles of justice. The association has also called for a more nuanced approach to be adopted by the ED in dealing with lawyers and the legal community, and for greater respect to be shown to the autonomy and independence of the legal profession.