M/S. Accord Distillers and Brewers Pvt.Ltd., v. Joint Director

ORDER (Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) The legality and validity of the panchanama dated 7.3.2025 issued pursuant to the search and seizure conducted by the first respondent on 7.3.2025 is assailed by the learned counsel for the petitioner on the submission that it was against the provisions of law. Reliance is placed on a decision of the Delhi High Court in the case of the Directorate of Enforcement, through Assistant Director, Delhi v. Rajesh Kumar Agarwal1.

¶2We find that after the seizure was conducted, the confirmation order was passed by the Adjudicating Authority in exercise of its statutory powers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

¶3It was open for the petitioner to raise these objections before the Adjudicating Authority and, in any case, if the petitioner had any grievance, it was open for it to challenge the adjudication order before the appropriate forum.

¶4In the absence of challenge to the order of the Adjudicating Authority, the challenge to search and seizure is not maintainable. The petition is misconceived and, therefore, dismissed, however with liberty to the petitioner to take appropriate remedy in case the 1Order dated 12.9.2025 in Misc.Appeal (PMLA) No.3 of 2023 petitioner is aggrieved by the order of adjudication. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, interim applications stand closed. (MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J)

29.01.2026 Index : : sasi To:

1.The Joint Director Shantinagar, Bangaloree,

2.The Deputy Director Chennai Zonal Office-I, No.2, 5 and 6 th Floor, BSNL Administrative Building, Kush Kumar Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 031.

3.The Assistant Director Shantinagar, Bangaloree, THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN,J.

(sasi) W.P. Crl. No.1685 of 2025

29.01.2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 29.01.2026 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR. MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN W.P. Crl. No.1685 of 2025 and WP MP Crl. Nos.786 to 789 of 2025 Accord Distillers and Brewers Pvt. Ltd, Rep. by its Authorised Signatory, A.Selvakumar, Having Registered Office at No.29, Thilak Street, T.Nagar, Chennai - 600 017. Petitioner Vs 1.The Joint Director Shantinagar, Bangalore, 2.The Deputy Director Chennai Zonal Office-I, No.2, 5 and 6 th Floor, BSNL Administrative Building, Kush Kumar Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 031. 3.The Assistant Director Shantinagar, Bangaloree, Respondents PRAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for records pertaining to the search dated 07.03.2025 conducted at the petitioner's business premises located at No.29, Thilak Street, T.Nagar, Chennai - 600 017 authorised by respondent No.1 and quash the same, including all such consequential proceedings, as illegal and arbitrary, being in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, 1950 and direct respondent No.3 to return the seized digital records and data enumerated in the seizure memo/panchanama dated 07.03.2025. For Petitioner: Mr.G.Karthikeyan For Respondents: Mr.N.Ramesh Special Public Prosecutor for ED Cases