Telangana HC issues notices to ED officials on plea alleging illegal detention, torture

By Our Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has issued notices to senior Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, the State Home Department, the Director General of Police, the Station House Officer of Saifabad Police Station and a private individual, V. Sandeep, on a petition filed by Mangalam Palli Naga Sai Manikanta, alleging illegal detention and physical torture by ED officials during an investigation into an alleged liquor smuggling case.

The petitioner alleged that, after voluntarily appearing before the ED on October 26 pursuant to summons issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), he was detained for nearly 10 hours and subjected to physical assault for refusing to make statements implicating certain individuals in connection with the sale of his family’s land. He further claimed that the officials forced him to sign a pre-prepared statement without permitting him to read its contents.

Alleging that the Saifabad Police failed to register an FIR on his complaint dated October 27 or take steps to preserve crucial evidence, including CCTV footage, visitor registers and other records from the ED office, he sought a court-monitored investigation by an independent agency, preservation of relevant evidence, registration of an FIR and a direction restraining the ED from relying on the allegedly coerced statement.

During the hearing, Justice E.V. Venugopal also expressed strong displeasure over the conduct of the ED counsel, who appeared online and repeatedly interrupted the Court while proceedings were underway. After hearing the parties, the Court issued notices to the respondents, directed them to file their counter-affidavits and adjourned the matter to November 27.