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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P. (Cr). No. 231 of 2026 ------

Amar Mandal, aged about 48 years, Son of Ravan Mandal, Resident of Village-Sejakora, P.O. & P.S. Jama, District-

Dumka, State-Jharkhand.

……………Petitioner Versus Directorate of Enforcement, through its Deputy Director, having its office at Plot No.1520/B, Airport Road, P.O. &

P.S. Hinoo, District-Ranchi, Jharkhand-834002.

................ Opposite Party -------

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUJIT NARAYAN PRASAD -------

For the Petitioner : Mr. Ajit Kumar, Sr. Advocate Mr. Kartik Sabharwal, Advocate Ms. Aprajita Bhardwaj, Advocate Mr. Sabi Uddin, Advocate Mr. Abash Ajit Kumar, Advocate Mr. Abhishek Abhi, Advocate For the Opp. Party : Mr. Amit Kumar Das, Sr. Advocate Mr. Saurav Kumar, Advocate ------

C.A.V. on 05/08/2026 Pronounced on 01/09/2026 Prayer:

1.The instant application has been filed under Sections

226 of the Constitution of India for the following reliefs:

a. For issuance of an appropriate writ(s), order(s) or direction(s) in the nature of Certiorari, to call for the records and to quash the entire criminal proceedings arising out of ECIR/RNZO/08/2023 registered by the Respondent-Directorate of Enforcement, insofar as it relates to the present Petitioner, for the alleged offences under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, in view of the fact that the Petitioner has already been acquitted vide judgment and order dated 10.02.2026 passed in connection with the predicate offence arising out of Poraiyahat P.S. Case No. 07/19 dated 20.01.2019 registered for the alleged offences under Sections 414 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 read with Sections 4 and 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, Pending 1957, by the Court of Shri Amit Bansal, learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Godda.

b. For issuance of an appropriate writ(s), order(s) or direction(s) in the nature of Declaration declaring that in view of the acquittal of the Petitioner in the aforesaid predicate offence, on the basis of which ECIR/RNZO/08/2023 has been registered by the Respondent-Directorate of Enforcement for the alleged offences under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, no further investigation as defined under Section 2(na) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 can be continued against the present Petitioner.

c. For grant of an interim order staying all further proceedings in connection with ECIR/RNZO/08/2023 during the pendency of the present writ petition.

d. For issuance of any other appropriate writ(s), order(s) or direction(s) as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the present case.

Factual Matrix of the Case

2.The background of the case, in brief, is that on 20.01.2019, the Jharkhand Police received information regarding illegal transportation of mined coal. Upon this, the police intercepted a truck bearing registration no. OR- 16D/8350, which was found loaded with coal. Upon interception, the driver of the said vehicle, namely Kartik Bhandari, was unable to produce any valid documents or permits authorising the transportation of the coal. During preliminary enquiry, the said driver allegedly disclosed that the owner of the truck, Amar Mandal, along with Avadh Kishore Sharma, Vinod Singh and Manoj Sah, were engaged in the illegal trade and transportation of coal, allegedly transporting the same from the State of West Bengal for sale in the States of Bihar, Jharkhand and other places.

3.On the basis of the aforesaid occurrence, Poraiyahat Police Station, District Godda, Jharkhand, instituted Poraiyahat P.S. Case No. 07 of 2019 dated 20.01.2019 for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 414 (assisting in concealment of stolen property) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 read with Sections 4 and 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.

4.Upon completio