AXIS BANK LTD. Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The brief facts of the case are that the respondents No. 4-6, by various orders had directed the writ petitioner Bank to mark "Debit Freeze" of the accounts standing in the name of SUPERIOR FINLEASE LIMITED and ZOKIA FINSERV PRIVATE LIMITED, for offences committed under Ss. 420, 506 and 419 of the IPC read with Sec. 66, and 67 of the Information Technology Act, as well as under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

(2.) Accordingly, the writ petitioner as per the orders passed by the Statutory Authorities(respondents) had marked "Debit Freezed" of the aforesaid Bank accounts.

(3.) That thereafter the Adjudicating Authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, under an order dtd. 30/5/2023, passed in O.A. No. 788/2023, issued a letter directing the writ petitioner to make a Demand Draft of the frozen amounts, in favour of the respondent No. 2, at Shillong. As there were multiple orders, which created confusion with regard to compliance, the writ petitioner has approached this Court impugning a letter dtd. 20/9/2024, wherein the directions have been issued to make a Demand Draft of the frozen amount along with interest accrued, if any, in favour of the respondent No. 2.