CBI & ED — Trial and Appeals
A summons is a legal process with defined steps — not an accusation of guilt.
What this covers
The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate are separate agencies with different mandates. The CBI investigates offences referred to it — including corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other scheduled offences — and prosecutes before CBI courts. The ED investigates money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and violations under FEMA, and typically becomes involved once a "predicate offence" (often one the CBI or police is already investigating) generates proceeds of crime.
This covers representation from the first notice through trial and appeal: responding to a summons, proceedings on an ECIR or FIR, bail and anticipatory bail applications, trial before the special court, and appeals to the High Court.
General process
Summons / ECIR / FIR
Understand exactly what's been alleged and under which statute.
Respond & appear
Appearance for questioning, with attention to statutory rights and procedure.
Bail, if required
Regular or anticipatory bail application, where custody is a risk.
Trial & appeal
Representation before the special court, and appeal to the High Court if required.
Frequently asked
What's the difference between CBI and ED jurisdiction?
Broadly: the CBI investigates the underlying offence (corruption, fraud, cheating); the ED investigates what happened to the money generated from it, under PMLA. The same set of facts can attract both, run in parallel, by different agencies, on different timelines.
What is an ECIR?
An Enforcement Case Information Report — the ED's internal equivalent of an FIR, opened when it begins investigating a suspected money-laundering offence. Unlike an FIR, it isn't routinely handed to the person under investigation, which is often the first point of confusion.
Do I have to answer every question during questioning?
You have defined rights during questioning by these agencies, including around self-incrimination and legal representation — this is exactly the kind of situation where getting advice before you appear, not after, matters most.
Deadlines in these matters are often short and non-negotiable. If you've received a summons or notice, it's worth getting a read on it before your appearance date rather than after.