Court refuses to stay on ED summons issued to Mehbooba Mufti

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS). The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to stay the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti.

Chief Justice D.N. A bench of Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh said, “We are not giving any relief.”

She will now appear before the ED on March 22 in the alleged money laundering case three days later.

Significantly, on March 10, the bench stayed the summons issued to the Mufti by the Enforcement Directorate. The Mehbooba Mufti was earlier asked to join the investigation on March 15 at 11.30 am.

The 61-year-old Mehbooba Mufti moved the Delhi High Court yesterday. He challenged the summons issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

In his petition, Mehbooba Mufti has said that he has not been informed about whether he is being called as an accused or as a witness.

The petition also states that the petitioner is not the subject of investigation, nor is he an accused. He said that this summons is a means of putting undue pressure on them and oppressing them.

The Mehbooba Mufti said in his petition that he has been under hostile action against his acquaintances and old family friends ever since he was released from precautionary custody after the formal abolition of Article 370. He has also been issued a summons by the ED. Not only this, his personal, political and financial matters were also investigated and his personal instruments were also confiscated.