In a sharply worded statement, the Bombay Bar Association (BBA) has condemned the issuance of summons by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to two prominent Senior Advocates, Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal — in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation. Although the summons has since been withdrawn, the Association said the act itself represents a direct affront to the legal profession and the rule of law.
Calling the move “a direct attack on the legal community as a whole,” the BBA said the incident has “shocked the collective conscience” of lawyers across India. The Association expressed grave concern over what it views as a misuse of power by the investigative agency, warning that such actions risk setting a dangerous precedent for the intimidation of advocates performing their professional duties.
“Advocates accept any professional assignment on the basis that during the course of such professional work, they would not have to face intimidation or threats of any kind,” the statement read. It added that the rule of law cannot be preserved if advocates feel threatened merely by representing clients.
The Association underlined that the powers of the ED, while statutory, must be exercised within the legal framework of the country, which includes protections enshrined in the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 — particularly provisions safeguarding professional and confidential communication between advocates and their clients.
