ED official summoned for disobeying HC orders

EXPRESSING strong displeasure over the manner the Enforcement Directorate has been handling the cases filed by film producer Akash Bhaskaran and businessman Vikram Ravindran, the Madras High Court on Wednesday issued "statutory notice" to an Assistant Director (AD) in connection with a contempt of court petition moved by Bhaskaran.

- R SIVAKUMAR @Chennai

The court also directed the AD, Vikas Kumar, Chennai Zonal Office-I, to appear in the court on September 17.

A division bench of justices MS Ramesh and V Lakshminarayanan passed the orders on the contempt of court petition filed by Bhaskaran praying for punishing the officials for wilful disobedience by continuing to hold the money laundering proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) despite the bench issuing an interim injunction on June 20.

Rapping the ED for its overreaching act, the bench told special public prosecutor N Ramesh appearing for the agency, "There is a limit (for the ED)."