ED moves HC against Parmar’s discharge in Panchkula graft case

The ED moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the discharge order of Parmar and others. The petition is expected to be taken up for hearing by the HC next week.

During a resumed hearing, the PMLA court deferred the ED’s request to defer further proceedings, noting that the ED had filed a petition before the HC and that directions, if any, would come from the HC.

Defense counsel cited the Associated Journals case on April 28, arguing that ED proceedings could restart in PMLA if the main case is revived.

Defense counsel cited the case of Assistant Director, Directorate of Enforcement vs The Associated Journals Ltd, noting that the special PMLA court had closed proceedings on April 3 following discharge in the main case (Hooda-related matter).

The ED filed an application seeking deferment of further PMLA proceedings, arguing that it had challenged the discharge before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

A Panchkula court discharged Sudhir Parmar and four others, including Roop Bansal (M3M), Lalit Goyal (IREO), Anil Bhalla (Vatika Group) and Ajay Parmar, nephew of the suspended judge.

Parmar was granted bail in November 2023.

Following the ECIR, the ED filed a prosecution complaint under Sections 44 and 45 of the PMLA against seven accused in August 2023.

Sudhir Parmar was arrested by the ED in August 2023 in connection with the case.

Based on the FIR, the Enforcement Directorate registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) on June 13, 2023.

The ACB, Haryana, registered an FIR on April 17, 2023 under sections 7, 8, 11 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act along with Section 120-B IPC against Sudhir Parmar and others, alleging connections with M3M and IREO groups and the granting of undue benefits in exchange for illegal gratification.