Delhi HC stays ED summons to Mehbooba Mufti

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday stayed the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate to former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti, in an alleged money laundering case, her counsel said.

The ED lawyer informed that matter has been adjourned to March 19 on the agency's statement that it will not insist on her appearance on March 15.

Mufti had challenged on Tuesday the summons issued to her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. She had received the summons on March 5.

The petition cited that she has not been informed whether she was being summoned as an accused or as a witness.

"The petitioner is not the subject of investigation, nor is she an accused adding that in any of the scheduled offences to the best of her knowledge," the plea added.

She expressed the apprehension that the summons was intended to bring undue pressure and harassment upon her.

"Ever since the petitioner was released from preventive detention following the formal abrogation of Article 370, there have been a series of hostile acts by the State, against her acquaintances and old family friends, who have all been summoned by the ED and a roving inquiry about her personal, political and financial affairs was made, in the course of which their personal devices have been seized", the plea said.

Mufti was asked to join the investigation on March 15 at 11.30 a.m. at the Enforcement Directorate's office in the national capital.

(with inputs from IANS)