M/S Angelique International ... vs Director Directorate Of ...
2021 Latest Caselaw 3614 Del

Citation : 2021 Latest Caselaw 3614 Del
Judgement Date : 23 December, 2021

Delhi High Court

M/S Angelique International ... vs Director Directorate Of ... on 23 December, 2021

                                      $~33
                                      *    IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

                                      %                               Judgment delivered on: 23.12.2021

                                      +     W.P.(C) 14953/2021 & CM APPL. 47213/2021
                                      ANGELIQUE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED & ANR...... Petitioners
                                                                      versus

                                      DIRECTOR, DIRECTORATE OF
                                      ENFORCEMENT PMLA & ANR.                             ..... Respondents
                                      Advocates who appeared in this case:
                                      For the Petitioner: Mr. R.K. Handoo, Mr. Yoginer Handoo, Mr. Aditya
                                                          Chaudhary and Mr. Ashwin Kataria, Advocates

                                      For the Respondent: Mr. Amit Mahajan, CGSC with Mr. Kritagya Kait,
                                                          Advocate

                                      CORAM:-
                                      HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV SACHDEVA

                                                         JUDGMENT

SANJEEV SACHDEVA, J. (ORAL)

CM APPL. 47214/2021 (Exemption)

Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

W.P.(C) 14953/2021

1. The present petition has been filed assailing the order dated 13.12.2021 passed by the Adjudicating Authority, PMLA, confirming

Digitally Signed Signature Not Verified By:JUSTICE SANJEEV Digital Signed By:KUNAL SACHDEVA MAGGU Signing Date:23.12.2021 Signing Date:24.12.2021 11:00:13 22:17 This file is digitally signed by PS to HMJ Sanjeev Sachdeva.

the Provisional Attachment order.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that being aggrieved by the impugned order, the petitioners propose to file a statutory appeal before the Appellate Tribunal, PMLA, but since the same is not likely to be taken up in the near future by the Tribunal for want of quorum, they have been compelled to approach this Court. Petitioner prays that the respondent no. 1 be restrained from taking any action pursuant to the impugned order dated 13.12.2021 till the petitioners' appeal and stay application are taken up for consideration by the Appellate Tribunal, PMLA.

3. Issue notice. Mr. Mahajan accepts notice on behalf of the respondents and is not in a position to dispute the fact that the Appellate Tribunal, PMLA is presently not functional for want of quorum.

4. In the light of the aforesaid, the writ petition is partly allowed by directing that, subject to the petitioners filing a statutory appeal before the Appellate Tribunal within a period of two weeks from today, the parties will maintain status quo qua the subject matter of the impugned order till the petitioners' appeal and stay application are taken up for consideration by the Tribunal as and when it becomes functional. Consequently, the respondent no. 1 is restrained from taking any coercive action against the petitioners on the basis of the

impugned order dated 13.12.2021.

5. Needless to state, this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the claims raised in the petition. It is further made clear that this order will merge with any orders as may be passed by the Tribunal on the petitioners' appeal and stay application, as and when, it becomes functional.

SANJEEV SACHDEVA, J DECEMBER 23, 2021 'rs'