Guruswamy; our petition is limited to the point that our personal political data be protected.
It is inappropriate to bully a political party when it had filed a petition believing that its data could be taken from its political consultant of six years.
ASG: I want to file an affidavit on maintainability…thereafter you may hear the other side.
Bench: come back with an affidavit will all these issues
Dr Guruswamy: give me two minutes. Mr Raju’s statement may be recorded that nothing was seized by the ED.
ASG: all the issues they have raised are pending before the SC.
I have pointed out that similar matters are pending before the SC.
If that is pending, this matter should be adjourned till those matters are decided.
ASG: all these matters are pending before the SC on the EDs power to seize documents.
Judicial propriety requires that this court not hear the matter.
Court: the first matter is no longer on merits. They are seeking a limited direction
Court: anything to add?
ASG: I’ll give the number of petitions pending on this point.
ASG reads out writ petitions
ASG: if there is no data seized how can I maintain it? Therefore the petition is vague and not maintainable.
ED has not taken anything. Mamata Banerjee took away the data…we don’t have possession of anything. My statement may be recorded.
ASG: two arguments are made. One on EDs powers to seize and that sensitive documents were seized.
Both are before the SC
Court: they have only asked for preservation of the allegedly political data
ASG: I will tell you about the powers of the ED under S.17 of PMLA, and it is being examined by the SC
Court: you are spending time over nothing, please do not do this. We are not dealing with s.17 here
We know the SC is seized of the issue
Court: I’m sorry…you are repeating yourself
ASG: petition is vague…it must be rejected. Power to seize flows from s17 PMLA.
Court: please don’t make these submissions now
ASG: you may record that you are not letting me argue…I know my limits. If you want to nip me in the bud, I will bow down
Court: nothing further on maintainability at the moment?
ASG: I am still making my point, kindly look at S.17 of PMLA
Court: I am not hearing that now
ASG: I am not finished
Court: I will hear the other side now on mantainability
ASG: if you don’t want to hear me…
Court: please confine your submissions