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2015 (3) TMI 1267 - HC - Money LaunderingDirection to banks to prohibit/freeze the withdrawal from the accounts maintained in the branches by the appellant No. 1 Group of Companies - Held that:- (a) Impugned letter dated 19.09.2014 issued by respondent No. 3 requesting respondent banks (reporting entities under the Act) to prohibit/freeze withdrawal of monies from the account of the appellant's group of Companies is to be read as an indispensable temporary measure for preservation of evidence pending investigation and has been issued in aid of proceedings for attachment and seizure contemplated under section 5 or 7 of the Act and not to supplant them. Such incidental and consequential power being in aid to proceedings contemplated under the Act is held to be vested in the investigating agency in view of the inclusive definition of "investigation" under section 2(na) of PML Act, 2002. (b) Respondents banks being "reporting entities" under the Act are duty bound to assist the investigating agency in terms of section 54 of PML Act and therefore issuance of notice upon the respondents banks cannot be said to be illegal. (c) Failure to refer to other "scheduled offences" apart from the one under the SEBI Act in the impugned letter would not ipso facto invalidate the same in view the materials emanating from the records of investigation as also the saving provision engrafted in section 68 of the PML Act, 2002. (d) Impugned letter dated 19.09.2014 having been held to be a temporary measure in aid of proceedings under the Act cannot be an end it itself. Hence, embargo contained in the said letter cannot continue indefinitely but is required to be restricted to a time frame within which the respondents may initiate appropriate proceedings under the Act in respect of the accounts/assets referred therein. Accordingly, the impugned letter dated 19.09.2014 is modified and the embargo contained therein is directed to operate for a period of three months from date within which the respondent authorities are at liberty to initiate appropriate proceedings as contemplated under the Act, if not already done, in respect of the assets/accounts referred to therein. If the respondent authorities fail to initiate proceedings under the Act in respect of the accounts/assets referred to in the impugned letter within the aforesaid time frame, the respondent banks would be at liberty to permit the appellants to operate the said accounts/assets in accordance with law. The appeal is partly allowed.
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