Punjab-ED Row: Punjab Police Sends Detailed Reply to Enforcement Directorate

A letter from the Punjab Police to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has emerged in a case involving allegations of corruption and a request to register an FIR. Punjab Police’s Bureau of Investigation reportedly wrote to the ED on August 28, asking it to provide original digital records, screenshots, inventories, seizure memos and other documents on the basis of which the ED had sought registration of an FIR. The ED responded on August 31, citing the upcoming September 3 hearing in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. It reportedly argued that its material had been prepared after examination by the competent authority and referred to Supreme Court guidelines, including the Lalita Kumari case, as well as Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The ED maintained that the state police should register an FIR and provide a copy to the agency. Meanwhile, a 200-page dossier containing the relevant material was submitted to the High Court on September 1. The case reached the court after a public-interest petition alleged that Punjab Police had failed to act on the ED’s communication. The High Court is expected to consider the matter on September 3, with the CBI also having been issued notice.