The Supreme Court on Friday stayed provisional attachment proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Rs 742 crore assets worth of the Dayanidhi Maran-controlled Sun TV.
“We will stay the proceedings... we expect judicial discipline, when the matter is pending here, how can the adjudicating authority in Delhi pass any order,” a bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy asked.
The court, however, clarified that the proceedings started by the ED to attach the properties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act as proceeds of crime related to the 2G case would not become null and void even after the expiry of 180 days as mandated in the law.
The court passed its brief order after senior advocate Abhishek M Singhvi, appearing for the SunTV, submitted that the court’s stay order must not exclude the adjudicating authority. The ED had ordered provisional attachment of assets of Sun TV worth Rs 742 crore reportedly linked to the Aircel-Maxis deal.