JUDGMENT

1. This petition raises an interesting question of the effect of the lockdown declared by the Central Government due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the period of the Provisional Attachment Orders passed under Section 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Act').

BRIEF FACTS:

2. The respondent no. 1, in exercise of its powers under Section 5(1) of the Act, passed a Provisional Attachment Order dated 13.11.2019, provisionally attaching certain properties of the petitioners amounting to Rs.52,21,16,797/-, for a period of 180 days from the date of the said order.

3. The respondent no.1 thereafter, in terms of Section 5(5) of the Act, filed a complaint, being OC No.1228/2019, before the Adjudicating Authority on 05.12.2019.

4. The Adjudicating Authority, on 18.12.2019, issued a Show Cause Notice under Section 8(1) of the Act to the petitioners. However, before the proceedings could be concluded, on 23.03.2020, the Government of India declared a nationwide lockdown with effect from 24.03.2020 due to the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

5. The lockdown declared by the Government of India was partially lifted on 20.04