Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court has refused to quash the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against Amar Mandal, a resident of Sejakora village under Jama Police Station in Dumka district, despite his acquittal in the underlying coal-related criminal case registered at Poraiyahat Police Station in Godda district.
Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad dismissed Mandal’s plea seeking quashing of the ED proceedings and also vacated an earlier interim order that had stayed further proceedings. However, the court allowed Mandal to pursue appropriate remedies before the competent authorities and place his acquittal on record.
Jharkhand High Court Says ECIR Cannot Be Quashed at This Stage
Mandal had approached the High Court after being acquitted in the coal transportation case. His premises at Sejakora village in Dumka had also been searched by the ED.
He argued that the money-laundering proceedings should not continue after the alleged predicate offence ended in acquittal.
The High Court rejected the plea, noting that the ED had placed material before the court concerning alleged unexplained assets and that the statutory adjudication process under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was already underway.
The court observed that quashing the ECIR at this stage could interfere with the statutory jurisdiction of the Adjudicating Authority and potentially frustrate the mechanism provided under the PMLA.
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Coal Transportation Case Originated in Godda
The underlying criminal case dates back to January 20, 2019, when Jharkhand Police intercepted a truck carrying coal without valid documents.
The incident resulted in the registration of a case at Poraiyahat Police Station in Godda district. The truck driver subsequently implicated Mandal and others in allegations relating to illegal coal trading and transportation.
Mandal was eventually acquitted by the trial court on February 10, 2026, after the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Following his acquittal, Mandal submitted the trial court judgment before the ED and the Adjudicating Authority, arguing that the money-laundering proceedings should consequently be brought to an end.
ED Registered Money-Laundering Case in 2023
The ED registered its money-laundering case in February 2023.
During a search of Mandal’s premises at Sejakora village under Jama Police Station in Dumka district in November 2025, the agency seized:
- ₹85 lakh in cash
- 134 original property deeds
- Other documents
The ED opposed Mandal’s plea, maintaining that the PMLA provides a separate statutory mechanism for adjudication.
According to the agency, his acquittal in the trial court did not amount to a final determination that would prevent further proceedings under the anti-money-laundering law.
Adjudicating Authority Examining Seized Assets
The High Court noted that the Adjudicating Authority in New Delhi was already examining the ED’s application concerning the retention of the seized cash and documents.
The court held that quashing the ECIR while the statutory process was pending would effectively interfere with the jurisdiction of the Adjudicating Authority.
The court also found that the judgments cited by Mandal were factually distinguishable from the circumstances of his case.
Court Vacates Interim Stay on ED Proceedings
The Jharkhand High Court consequently dismissed Mandal’s plea and vacated the interim stay that had halted further proceedings.
At the same time, the court clarified that Mandal remains free to pursue remedies available to him before the Adjudicating Authority and other competent authorities.
He can also place his trial court acquittal on record. The concerned authority has been directed to take an appropriate decision in accordance with law.
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