Overview
- Chief Justice Surya Kant’s bench declined interim restraint on the Enforcement Directorate examining Jitendra Mehta’s seized mobile phone and questioned his apprehension about access.
- Mehta has been summoned to the ED headquarters for questioning on Friday after his device was taken during Jan 8 searches linked to the I-PAC probe.
- The court clubbed multiple petitions over ED access to digital devices and set a further hearing for Tuesday to consider broader procedural safeguards.
- Petitioners argue device searches raise privacy and self-incrimination concerns, with the Court previously asking the government to frame guidelines for handling digital seizures.
- The ED alleges Mehta helped route Rs 20 crore via hawala for I-PAC’s use in Goa and claims Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and state police disrupted a Kolkata search and removed devices.