Supreme Court Dismisses ED's Challenge To Madras High Court's Order Summoning ED Officer In Contempt Matter

The Supreme Court recently dismissed a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenging an order of the Madras High Court issuing notice to an ED officer in a contempt petition. The contempt petition was filed alleging that the ED was continuing the investigation ignoring the High Court's stay order.

A bench comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi expressed that the bench is not inclined to entertain the ED's petition having regard to the fact that the contempt proceedings are pending in the High Court. Giving liberty to raise all contentions before the High Court, the bench dismissed the Special Leave Petition.

The case relates to the ED investigation against film producer Aakash Baskaran and businessman Vikram Ravindran in a TASMAC-related probe. On July 20, the High Court had stayed the proceedings against them in the money laundering case and directed the ED to return the seized materials to them after prima facie observing that there was no proper authorization for search as per Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Later, Akash Bhaskaran filed a contempt petition in the High Court against the show-cause notice issued to him by the ED after the stay order. On August 20, the High Court issued notice to the Assistant Director of Enforcement, Vikas Kumar, in the contempt matter.

Appearance in SC - For the petitioners: Mr Suryaprakash V Raju (ASG), Mr Zoheb Hussain, Mr Annam Venkatesh, Mr Hitarth Raja, Mr Vivek Gurnani, Mr Arvind Kumar Sharma (AOR); for the respondents: Mr Bharat Monga (AOR), Ms Nishtha Kaura Monga.

Case : Joint Director v. Akash Bhaskaran | SLP (Crl) 14728/2025