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Synopsis

The Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday informed the Bombay High Court that an investigation has revealed that no officer of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was involved in the extortion case of Businessmen Jitendra Navlani. 

The ACB informed the division bench comprising Justice Mohite Dere and Justice R.N Ladha that there will be no occasion for the ACB to treat the ED officers as suspects or accused in the case. 

The Enforcement Directorate had approached the Bombay High Court seeking protection from arrest in the Jitendra Navlani Extortion Case, in which a Special Investigation Team was set up by the former Mumbai Commissioner, Sanjay Pandey during the MVA government, to probe into the alleged extortion case of 58 crores between 2015-2021.

Earlier the Enforcement Directorate had argued that the ACB did not take the sanction from the central government to prosecute the officers of the central agency. The agency had also prayed before the court for an inquiry by an impartial agency like CBI. The ED had further argued that the FIR filed by the ACB was malafide and that the state machinery was being used since various investigations were initiated against the ministers of the state.

The ACB in its affidavit submitted before the court that

"Not a single officer is named accused in FIR and the apprehension of coercive action is nothing but an imagination of the petitioner agency" 

Additional Solicitor General, Anil Singh, appearing for the agency then informed the court that it was withdrawing the petition which was accepted by the bench.