Directorate Of Enforcement, Chandigarh v. The Associated Journals Ltd. And ORS

CRR-968-2022 (O&M)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH (204) CRR-968-2022 (O&M) Decided on: 19.01.2026 DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT, CHANDIGARH ......Petitioner

Versus

THE ASSOCIATED JOURNALS LIMITED AND OTHERS ......Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE TRIBHUVAN DAHIYA Present:- Mr.S.V.Raju, Additional Solicitor General of India (through Video Conferencing) with Mr. Zoheb Hossain, Senior Panel Counsel, Union of India (through Video Conferencing) with Mr. Shourya Mehra, Advocate Ms. Arundhatti, Advocate and Mr. Shobit Phutela, Advocate for the petitioner/ED.

Mr. Sartej Singh Narula, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Mayur Singla, Advocate, and Dr. Amardeep Singh Sandhu, Advocate, for respondent no.1. Mr. R.S. Cheema, Senior Advocate, with Ms. Sumanjit Kaur, Advocate, Mr. Siddharth Bhukkal, Advocate, Mr. Satish Sharma, Advocate, Mr. Prince Bharol, Advocate, and Ms. Vibhuti Manchanda, Advocate.

and Mr. Pardeep Singh Poonia, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Pulkit Dhanda, Advocate, Mr. Dharampal Saini, Advocate, for respondent no.3. TRIBHUVAN DAHIYA , J. (Oral) This petition has been filed seeking cancellation of order dated 06.11.2019, passed by learned Special Judge under PMLA (Haryana), MOHIT GOYAL 2026.01.27 10:40 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Panchkula, in Complaint case COMA/42/2019 dated 26.08.2019, registered

CRR-968-2022 (O&M) for offences under Sections 3 and 4 read with Sections 44, 45 and 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (for short, 'the PMLA'), whereby the respondents/accused were granted bail as they had not been arrested during the course of investigation by invoking Section 19 of the PMLA, nor had they been produced in custody before the Court. The statutory complaint had been filed against the respondents without arresting them.

2.

Learned Additional Solicitor General of India appearing for the petitioner fairly submits that in view of the law settled in Tarsem Lal v. Directorate of Enforcement Jalandhar Zonal Office, (2024) 7 SCC 61, the respondents' entitlement to bail in such circumstances cannot be disputed. 3.

In view thereof, the petition stands dismissed. 4.

Pending applications, if any, shall stand disposed of accordingly.

(TRIBHUVAN DAHIYA) 19.01.2026 JUDGE mohit goyal Whether speaking/reasoned :

Yes/No Whether Reportable :

Yes/No MOHIT GOYAL 2026.01.27 10:40 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document