The Delhi High Court has passed an order noting that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has withdrawn the Press Release dated April 26 2025, raising allegations against FIITJEE and its Directors and Officers.
In a single judge bench order of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, the bench said, “Directorate of Enforcement, on instructions, submits that the Department shall take appropriate steps to withdraw the Press Release (PR) in question from the website without being any orders on the merits or conformity of the PR with Office Memorandum, 2010 or otherwise.”
During the hearing of arguments, senior counsel for the petitioner argued before the bench that there were “various presumptions and assumptions which have been arrived at by the Enforcement (hearing after the ‘ED’)” which were completely beyond its jurisdiction.
The Petitioners also submitted before the Court that the impugned Press Release was in violation of the Office Memorandum dated April 1 2010 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India.
However, the bench clarified, “the Court is not adjudicating with respect to the gravity of overall offence which the petitioner might have committed.”
After hearing the arguments, the bench prima facie noted that the impugned Press Release was in contravention and violation of the aforesaid Office Memorandum.
“The prima facie perusal of the press release would prima-facie indicate that judgmental aspersions are made. The Clause VII of the Office Memorandum dated 01.10.2010 clearly states that no opinionated and judgmental statements should be made by the police while briefing the media,” Delhi HC noted.
Thereafter, counsel for the respondent sought time to seek instructions on whether they would revise the Press Release or have the matter adjudicated on merits.
“In view of the aforesaid, the petition has been rendered infructuous. The same is, accordingly, disposed of. Let the steps be taken by the respondents within a period of 7 days from today,” the bench ordered.
