Delhi HC quashes summons issued to Hero Group chairman Pawan Munjal in DRI proceedings

Delhi High Court quashes summons to Hero Motocorp chairman in foreign currency case; ED alleges money laundering.

The Delhi High Court on July 24 quashed a summons issued to Hero Motocorp chairman Pawan Kant Munjal in a case registered by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) relating to foreign currency.

The high court passed the order on Mr. Munjal's plea seeking quashing and setting aside a trial court's July 1, 2023, order by which the summons was issued against him for alleged offences under the Customs Act.

"The petition is allowed. Summoning order is quashed," Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri said while pronouncing the order.

In November last year, the high court had stayed the proceedings relating to foreign currency lodged against Mr. Munjal by the DRI.

The high court, in its interim order, had noted that Mr. Munjal was exonerated by the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) on the same set of facts and this was not disclosed before the trial court and that the petitioner had successfully made out a case for interim protection.

It had stayed the operation of the July 1, 2023, order passed by an additional chief metropolitan magistrate here and all proceedings emanating therefrom pending before the ACMM with respect to the petitioner.

The DRI had filed a prosecution complaint in 2022 for "carrying, attempting to export and illicit export of prohibited items, that is, foreign currency" against Mr. Munjal, a third-party service provider company called SEMPL and individuals identified as Amit Bali, Hemant Dahiya, K.R. Raman and some others.