Delhi HC to hear D.K. Shivakumar's plea against ED probe in January 2025

Delhi High Court defers hearing on D.K. Shivakumar's plea against money laundering probe by Enforcement Directorate.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday (December 3, 2024) posted on January 23 a plea by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar against a money laundering probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

A Bench comprising Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Amit Sharma deferred the matter saying it was not possible for it to commence the hearing on Tuesday (December 3, 2024).

"Counsel appearing for the parties say the matter will take some time. Owing to the part-heard matters already listed in court, it would not be possible to commence hearing. List on January 23," said the Bench.

Mr. Shivakumar moved the High Court in 2022 seeking quashing of the investigation, including summons issued to him in the ECIR (complaint) registered by the agency in 2020 following an alleged disproportionate assets case.

The senior counsel appearing for the petitioner said their arguments would take "half-a-day" as important issues were involved.

In his petition, Mr. Shivakumar challenged the money laundering probe against him on several grounds, including the one where he argued the ED was re-investigating the same offence already probed by it in another case in 2018.

In its submissions filed through advocates Mayank Jain, Parmatma Singh and Madhur Jain, Mr. Shivakumar said the present investigation constituted a second set of proceedings against him and was an abuse of process of law and a malafide exercise of power.