New Delhi, Dec. 24 -- The Delhi High Court has held that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cannot seek non-bailable warrants (NBWs) during investigation unless the strict conditions laid down in law are fully met, setting aside the warrants issued against UK-based businessman Sachin Dev Duggal.

In its judgment dated December 19, delivered in Sachin Dev Duggal v. Directorate of Enforcement, the High Court ruled that the requirements under Section 73 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for issuance of NBWs are mandatory and cannot be diluted.

The Court observed that these conditions are "sacrosanct and sine qua non" and must be satisfied before a magistrate can issue such warrants. The case arose from a summons issued by the ED to Duggal und...