Thread by @LawBeatInd

🚨Delhi High Court to shortly hear plea by Rana Ayyub, accused of Financial frauds challenging alleged foreign travel restrictions. @dir_ed has attached assets worth Rs 1.77 crore of Ayyub over allegations of violation of provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)

It is Ayyub’s case that she is a “journalist who speaks truth to power”, and “is at times perceived to be a source of some discomfort or inconvenience for the government” but that is no reason to deny her basic rights such as FOE & the right to travel abroad.

Enforcement directorate's associate counsel asks the matter to be passed over as main counsel Mr. Amit Mahajan is on his legs in another court.
Advocate for Ayyub asks the case to be taken up at 2 pm. "This is an urgent case"
Judge passes over case. (to be taken up in sometime)

Hearing begins.
"Mr. Mahajan had sought a pass over in the morning, he advocate for petitioner is also walking from court 51 to this court," lawyer says.
Plea to be taken up in a while, judge says.

Advocate Vrinda Grover for Rana Ayyub: I am a Journalist of much prominence and I am invited to speak at a conference. I also have to go to Italy to give keynote address. There is an enquiry going on by @dir_ed against me.
#RanaAyyub

Court: What are charges against you?

Rana Ayyub’s lawyer: Regarding donations I collected for poor persons during pandemic. Their case is under PMLA. They have seized those assets. I was examined & my statement has been recorded. This is write large against me.

Rana Ayyub’s lawyer explains sequence of events wrt legal processes against her client.
She says that in Mumbai, ED had questioned her. Then, she says, ED Delhi sought documents from her which were with Mumbai ED. “I had also sought for these documents from Mumbai ED” #RanaAyyub

Rana Ayyub's Lawyer, Vrinda Grover says that there is no communication from the @dir_ed till 1st February 2022 and on 5th February, they inform that they have provisionally attached funds under scanner.

Rana Ayyub's lawyer says that a show cause notice has been issued, funds have been attached and documents have been received from Mumbai office of ED to Delhi Office. "After this, Ayyub was in regular communication with ED"

Rana Ayyub's lawyer, Vrinda Grover tells the ED's communication with her client continued till end of March. "After this, I was invited at an event, I have a round trip ticket," she tells Delhi HC

Rana Ayyub's lawyer, Vrinda Grover tells Delhi HC: "Boarding card was with my client (Ayyub), the time is 2 pm & she is cleared by immigration. After this, she is detained in a room & tell me some remark is there on passport. They then say that ED is going to send you summons"

Rana Ayyub's lawyer, Vrinda Grover tells Delhi HC: At 1.46 PM, a summon arrives in her Email box. They send her an email first without attaching relevant details, it is obvious this was done in haste. This has verbatim copy of the earlier summon.

Rana Ayyub's Lawyer, Vrinda Grover tells Delhi HC: They are meddling with my fundamental right to travel.

Rana Ayyub's lawyer, Vrinda Grover tells Delhi High Court that her client's rights are being meddled and her right to practice her profession is being put down.
If people are being critical of the state, will they then not allow me to speak? What have they kept me here for?

SV Raju, ASG: This case is Not as simple as what is being portrayed. Rana Ayyub raised funds under garb of covid relief & money running into up to 2 crores. They have been siphoned off. These were received in INR, Dollars. Fake bills were submitted by her in name of relief work.

SV Raju, ASG: Deposit of 50 lac created for herself by Rana Ayyub & 50 lac was transferred for personal consumption. Look out notice was issued much earlier.
Court: File a status report
Rana Ayyub's lawyer says event is today, petition will be frustrated if no relief given.

Court dictates Order: "Important facts needed to be brought on record and therefore a status report is needed to be filed."
How much time do you need, Court asks ASG SV Raju
We'll file by Tuesday, ASG says
#RanaAyyub

Rana Ayyub's Lawyer, Vrinda Grover: The whole idea has been to frustrate this trip. My lords may take it up on Monday then. They have nothing to show.
Court puts up the case for hearing on Monday, next week.

BREAKING: No relief for Rana Ayyub to travel abroad yet as Delhi High Court seeks status report from Enforcement Directorate; "This case is not as simple as is being projected," the Additional Solicitor General told Court today.
@dir_ed #RanaAyyub
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