New Delhi, April 1: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought a status report from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a plea by journalist Rana Ayyub seeking permission to travel abroad, reports Bar and Bench.
Single-judge Justice Chandra Dhari Singh posted the case for further hearing on Monday next week but did not grant any relief today.
Ayyub has approached the Delhi High Court seeking permission to travel abroad after she was prevented by authorities from boarding a flight to London on Tuesday.
She was stopped at the Mumbai airport on Tuesday following issuance of a Look Out Circular against her.
This came after the ED attached her assets worth Rs 1.77 crore in connection alleged irregularities in the collection of charitable funds for Covid relief work.
The agency said it had issued summons to her earlier as well but she did not respond and that it did not want her to leave the country because it would delay the probe and filing of charge sheet in court.
Advocate Vrinda Grover appearing for Ayyub, told the Court on Friday that the case was borne out of mala fide.
She said that the ED’s Mumbai office initially had all relevant documents and the same were then transmitted to ED’s Delhi office.
She maintained that she has been in regular communication with ED.
Grover also proceeded to explain the events of Tuesday when she was prevented from boarding the flight to London.
“I am taking an Air India plane to London. First my travel is approved and then it is cancelled. The timing is very interesting. The boarding time is 2 pm. I am cleared by immigration then suddenly some confabulation takes place and I am detained in a room. I am told by officers there that ED is going to send me summons. Please see the timing of the summons. I have regularly appeared and joined. The summon arrived in my email at 1:46 pm. I have to board at 2 pm. This has all been done in haste,” Grover said.
Thus, the summons was an afterthought, Grover alleged.
She demanded whether he fundamental right to travel can be curtailed if she has been critical of the establishment.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju representing the ED, contended that Ayyub is involved in a very serious offence and has misappropriated funds collected in the name of relief work.
He further submitted that some documents have not been supplied and, therefore, a status report needs to be filed.
The Court allowed the request and asked ED to file status report.
