Delhi High Court Orders Axis Bank to Review Account Freeze Issue

The Delhi High Court has instructed Axis Bank to treat a writ petition as a formal representation from the petitioner concerning the operation of their bank account. The court ordered the bank to make a reasoned decision within 15 days, after conducting a hearing with the petitioner. This direction was passed to ensure a fair review process and prompt resolution of the account-related issues raised by the petitioner.

The issue began when the petitioner received an email from Axis Bank on March 27, 2024, indicating that Rs1,15,799 would be attached as per a directive from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). However, Axis Bank went beyond this directive and froze the entire account of the petitioner.

Advocate Ayush Jindal, representing the petitioner, argued that the petitioner merely wished to operate their account while maintaining the freeze on the amount specified by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Provisional Attachment Order dated March 26, 2024. The petitioner sought to ensure that only the specified amount was frozen, rather than having the entire account restricted.

Justice Dharmesh Sharma highlighted that Axis Bank’s actions required careful examination. He instructed the bank to review the situation thoroughly and issue a reasoned order by September 12, 2024.

The plea sought directions against both Axis Bank and the Directorate of Enforcement, regarding the operation of the petitioner’s bank account with Axis Bank. The petitioner’s lawyer submitted that, for the time being, they are requesting relief solely to allow the petitioner to operate their account, excluding the amount frozen as per the Enforcement Directorate’s order dated March 26, 2024.