Karnataka High Court Reserves Verdict on Plea Challenging ED Summons to Lawyer

The Karnataka High Court has reserved its judgment on a petition filed by a lawyer challenging the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) summons issued to him in connection with a money laundering case.

Gowda, however, claimed the correspondence cited by ED was part of his legal services and that investigating lawyers without safeguards violated Supreme Court rulings. His counsel argued Section 50 of PMLA does not empower ED to summon advocates in such cases.

The HC barred coercive action against Gowda until the verdict.

The matter raises key questions on the limits of ED’s powers and the protection of advocates in financial crime probes.

[Anil Gowda H v Directorate of Enforcement]