Probe agency ED seeks High Court nod to oppose Anil Parab's plea against Dapoli FIR

The ED has sought the High Court's permission to file a counter to Parab's petition, providing reasons why the relief sought by the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader should not be granted.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) told the Bombay High Court on Tuesday that it will face severe and irreparable damage if it is not allowed to intervene in the petition filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab, who is seeking to quash the FIR registered by Dapoli police station in Maharashtra.

Parab's plea aims to quash the FIR and chargesheet, alleging that he made false entries in the official records of the Gram Panchayat regarding the taxation of the land where the Sai Resort is built. The central agency has registered a money laundering offence against Parab and others based on this case.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, argued before a bench headed by Justice AS Gadkari that the FIR is treated as part of a predicate offence involving scheduled offences, revealing the generation of proceeds of crime. The intervention by the ED is crucial as Parab's relief seeks to conclude a part of the predicate offence forming the basis of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) proceedings.

The ED, during its investigation into the proceeds of crime generated from the scheduled offences in the FIR and final report, aims to demonstrate the modus operandi of the alleged offences. In this context, the ED positions itself as an "interested party" capable of assisting the court in determining whether the relief sought by Parab should be granted.

The ED emphasised that being denied the opportunity to be heard in Parab's petition would result in grave and irreparable harm and prejudice. The investigation into money laundering arising from the FIR and the final report would become ineffective if the agency is excluded from the proceedings.

Therefore, the ED has sought the High Court's permission to file a counter to Parab's petition, providing reasons why the relief sought by the Member of Legislative Council (MLC) should not be granted. The court has scheduled the matter for a hearing in the last week of January 2024.

Published By:
ramesh sharma
Published On:
Dec 5, 2023