New Delhi, Jan 25 (FN Bureau) Supreme Court in its interim order Wednesday requested the Ghaziabad court which had issued summons to journalist, Rana Ayyub for January 27 in relation to a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case to defer the hearing till Janaury 31, when it (SC) will take up the matter for hearing.A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Krishna Murari and also comprising Justice V Ramasubramanian passed the interim order and requested the Ghaziabad court to defer the hearing to Janaury 31, in connection with the issuance of summons to journalist, Rana Ayyub in relation to a PMLA case. The Ghaziabad court had earlier issued the summons to Ayyub for January 27, for her appearance before it in the PMLA case.
“We will hear the case on January 31. In the meantime, the Ghaziabad Special Court Anti corruption 1 is requested to adjourn the hearing fixed for January 27 to a date after January 31. This order is being passed because hearing cannot be concluded (by Supreme Court) due to paucity of time and not on merits,” the apex court ordered. The Top court passed order on Ayyub’s plea, filed through lawyer Vrinda Grover, challenging the jurisdiction of Ghaziabad court to proceed against her. Ayyub had moved the Supreme Court and challenged the jurisdiction of Ghaziabad court for proceedings against her and told the Supreme Court that her liberty is at stake. In October 2022, the ED had filed a complaint against Ayyub before the Ghaziabad court over alleged violations in publicly raising funds.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered the case on the basis of a complaint registered in September 2021 in Ghaziabad under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Amendment Act and Black Money Act against Ayyub. It was alleged in the FIR that she illegally acquired funds from the general public in the name of charity by launching fundraiser campaigns. Ayyub received foreign contributions without registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), it was alleged.