Sun TV case: Supreme Court asks ED not to precipitate matter till heard

Sun TV Network's plea seeking a stay on attachment of its assets worth Rs 742 crore by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would be taken up by the special bench hearing the 2G spectrum scam, the Supreme Court said on Monday.

"Please instruct your (ED) officer not to precipitate the matter," a bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu told senior advocate Anand Grover, who is the apex court-appointed Special Public Prosecutor for the ED and CBI in the 2G cases.

The bench, which also comprised Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy, said the special 2G bench would hear the matter on July 23.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Sun TV, submitted that the ED be restrained from proceeding with the matter. The company has filed the plea seeking to stay the attachment of its assets by the ED. The bench said it was only a provisional attachment and noted that the company would have to respond to the ED notice by July 21.

Government has maintained that the matter pertains to 2G case. The Madras High Court had refused to consider Sun TV's case on the same ground.