Delhi High Court records ED’s withdrawal of press release against FIITJEE

The Delhi High Court has recorded Enforcement Directorate’s unconditional withdrawal of its press release containing multiple allegations against FIITJEE, its directors and officers. The statement by the central agency was issued on April 26, 2025.

Earlier, the ED alleged that FIITJEE minted around ₹206 crore from students on the pretext of providing educational services, which were ultimately not delivered. The central agency had even initiated searches at seven locations in Noida, Delhi and Gurugram in the alleged ‘FIITJEE fraud case’, according to reports.

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The petitioners earlier challenged the impugned Press Release issued by the ED’s Lucknow Zonal Office after searches conducted at FIITJEE’s Noida and Delhi offices as well as the residences of certain Directors and Officers.

The unconditional withdrawal of the Press Release vindicates the consistent stand of FIITJEE and its Directors that the allegations were baseless and unsupported by evidence, ANI reported.

Earlier, the petitioners contended that the Press Release was malicious, defamatory and founded on illegal and gross assumptions. Further, they alleged that it contained various presumptions and accusations without any supporting justification or evidence.

Moreover, they pointed out that while the Press Release claimed to be based on a “Preliminary Analysis Report”, no such report existed.

Also, the petitioners submitted before the High Court that the Press Release was in violation of the Office Memorandum dated April 1, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India.

While hearing the matter, the High Court prima facie observed that the impugned Press Release was contrary to and in violation of the aforesaid Office Memorandum.

Post that, counsel for the respondent sought time to obtain instructions on whether the central agency intended to revise the Press Release or have the matter adjudicated on the merits.

Despite claiming that the Press Release was based on a preliminary analysis of seized material, the respondent admitted before the High Court that no such Preliminary Analysis Report existed and was unable, prima facie, to substantiate the allegations, as per ANI report.

Subsequently, the High Court recorded the statement of counsel for the respondent that the central agency had taken instructions to unconditionally withdraw the impugned Press Release. Also, it orally observed that by withdrawing the Press Release the respondent had averted the serious ramifications that could have followed had the Court been required to decide the matter on the merits.