JUDGMENT :

ALOK ARADHE, J.

This intra court appeal emanates from an order dated 13.03.2023 passed by the learned Single Judge in I.A.No.1 of 2022 in W.P.No.41133 of 2022.

2. Facts giving rise to filing of this appeal briefly stated are that the respondent Nos.1 to 29 in the writ appeal are the companies registered under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. On the basis of a complaint made by the Housing Development Finance Corporation Bank (hereinafter referred to as ‘the HDFC Bank’), First Information Reports (FIRs) bearing FIR No.78 of 2021, dated 22.04.2021 and F.I.R.No.86 of 2021, dated 01.05.2021 were registered against M/s.Karvy Stock Broking Limited (KSBL) and its directors and M/s.Karvy Comtrade Limited and its Directors respectively for the offence under Section 420 IPC. A provisional order of attachment dated 18.07.2022 was issued under Section 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (hereinafter referred to as ‘PMLA’) by the Deputy Director, Enforcement Directorate. Thereafter, a show cause notice dated 19.09.2022 was issued by the Union of India.

3. The validity of the aforesaid provisional order of attachment dated 18.07.2022 and show cause notice dated