SC junks ED summonses to 2 lawyers

The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the summonses issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to two senior lawyers and laid down crucial guidelines restricting probe agencies from calling advocates for questioning over the legal advice given to their clients.

- PTI

A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria delivered the verdict in a suo motu case taken up after the ED summoned senior advocates Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal in connection with a money laundering probe. Justice Chandran said the bench had sought to “harmonise the exemption to the rule” protecting advocates and issued fresh directions to safeguard the legal profession from undue pressure by probe agencies.