ED response sought in Deepak Talwar case

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought ED's response on a plea by alleged lobbyist Deepak Talwar challenging his detention by Indian agencies after he was deported from the UAE last week in connection with a money laundering case, reports PTI.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that Talwar, who is in its custody, acted as middleman in negotiations to favour foreign private airlines causing the loss to national carrier Air India.

A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal issued notice to the ED and directed it to file a response to the petition by February 11. The court listed the matter for further hearing on February 12.

In his habeas corpus petition, Talwar claimed that his arrest and custody from January 30 onwards was illegal detention for which affirmative orders deserve to be passed to secure his personal life and liberty.

He alleged that his fundamental rights have been grossly violated by the authorities.

"He has been illegally picked up from a foreign country and brought to India without initiating any extradition proceedings despite the fact that there exists an extradition treaty between India and the said foreign country, i.e. UAE," the petition said, adding that he was not even given an opportunity to comply with the summons issued by the ED in the proceedings.