New Delhi, June 24 -- The Directorate of Enforcement's recent summons to senior advocate Arvind Datar and advocate Pratap Venugopal in connection with its investigation into stock options granted to former Religare Enterprises chairperson Rashmi Saluja sparked deep concerns within India's legal community.

Though the ED withdrew the notices after mounting criticism and backlash, the episode has reignited the debate on the sanctity of attorney-client privilege, the independence of legal advice, and the limits of investigative overreach.

Mint explains the controversy, the key legal flashpoints, and the broader implications for lawyer-client confidentiality in high-stakes corporate investigations.

What is the case about?

From 2021 to 2023...