Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 2026-08-07

Case Overview

  • The petitions involve the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) as respondent against Manoj Kumar Jayaswal & Ors., and M/S Hi‑Tech Mercantile (India) Pvt. Ltd & Ors. as petitioners against the ED.
  • Multiple Special Leave Petitions (SLP) – Diary Nos. 48621/2024 and 49595/2024 – were filed seeking relief from orders of the Trial Court that effected complete discharge in the matters.
  • The Court noted that the ED, represented by Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, and CBI counsel R.S. Cheema, correctly pointed out that the impugned Trial Court orders are appealable before the High Court, and similar matters have previously been filed directly before the High Court.
  • Several ancillary applications were listed, including I.A. No.260787/2024 (clarification sought by Pramod Kumar Mittal regarding a pending writ petition and a CBI closure report dated 23‑12‑2023) and I.A. No.42477/2024 (reference to a 2017 coordinate‑bench judgment).
  • The Court also addressed procedural matters concerning a host of other petitions (SLP(C) Nos., C.P.(Crl.) Nos., Diary Nos.) directing de‑tagging, re‑tagging, and listing on specific dates.

Directions and Orders

1. Delay in the two SLPs (Diary Nos. 48621/2024 and 49595/2024) is condoned.

2. The SLPs are disposed of; the Supreme Court Registry shall remit a copy of the record and a certified copy of this order to the Delhi High Court.

3. The Delhi High Court shall renumber and register the petitions as Revision Petitions.

4. Parties are directed to appear before the Delhi High Court on 17‑08‑2026; the Chief Justice of the High Court shall assign the matter as per the roster and endeavour to decide it expeditiously.

5. The Trial Court is directed to keep the application for release of frozen assets pending until the High Court decides the revision petitions.

6. I.A. No.260787/2024: The Court confirms that the final decision on the CBI’s closure report must be taken by the Trial Court and orders the Trial Court to decide within two months.

7. I.A. No.42477/2024: The Court declines to interfere with the directions of the 25‑07‑2014 order, noting that statutory remedies remain available.

8. Diary No. 25577/2024: Delay condoned; the SLP is dismissed as infructuous because the issue is academic.

9. SLP(Crl.) Nos. 16075‑16076/2024 & 7340/2025: Petitioners may withdraw the SLPs with liberty to institute appropriate proceedings later; the petitions are disposed of as withdrawn.

10. Various C.P.(Crl.) Nos. 2/2015, 4/2016, 1/2016, 2/2016, 10/2016 & 9/2016 are directed to be de‑tagged and listed on 09‑09‑2026.

11. SLP(C) Nos. 3452/2026, 38679/2025, 38691/2025, 762/2026 & 8575/2026 are to be de‑tagged and re‑tagged as specified and listed on 02‑09‑2026.

12. Further de‑tagging and re‑tagging of petitions (including WP(Crl.) 120/2012, WP(C) 463/2012, etc.) are ordered, with listing on 19‑08‑2026.

13. All pending applications, if any, in the above matters are disposed of.

Final Outcome

  • The two SLPs filed by the Directorate of Enforcement are dismissed after condoning delay, with the matter transferred to the Delhi High Court for revision proceedings.
  • The Trial Court must retain the frozen‑assets application pending High Court decision and decide the CBI closure‑report issue within two months.
  • Numerous ancillary petitions receive procedural dispositions (withdrawal, de‑tagging, re‑tagging, and scheduling) and are closed.

Topics: Legal Proceedings, Enforcement Directorate, Court Orders