TMC leader Mahua Moitra. PTI file
New Delhi, February 22
The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its order on TMC leader Mahua Moitra’s plea against the alleged leakage of “confidential” information from the Enforcement Directorate to the media in relation to a probe against her under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.
“Orders for tomorrow,” Justice Subramonium Prasad said while reserving the order.
On behalf of the former MP, senior advocate Rebecca John claimed she was being “hounded”, and information on issuance of summons to her by the agency was published by the media even before she received them.
Justice Prasad said as of now, there was nothing as the news report in question made factual assertions. “That is news. You are a public person. It is only a factual assertion…As of now, there is nothing,” the judge remarked.
John contended that she was not against the right of the agency to carry out any investigation but such media leaks were prejudicial to her.
“It is about information being leaked prior to it being communicated to me. (If there is no press release) ED is drip feeding sensitive and confidential information about me,” she submitted.
On behalf of a news organisation, advocate Sidhant Kumar said the petitioner was a public official facing probe for allegations that are in public domain, thus making it a matter of public debate. There was nothing prejudicial in the matter and media reports are based on sources, he added.
The ED counsel said there was no release or “leakage” from its end.
The ED has issued summons to Moitra in relation to a case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).Transactions linked to a non-resident external (NRE) account are under the scanner of the agency in the case apart from a few other foreign remittances and transfer of funds, the sources said. (With PTI Inputs)
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