Tue Jun 24 01:54:57 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewrite as a news article:

**Summary:**

The Bombay Bar Association (BBA) has strongly condemned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for issuing summons to two senior advocates, Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal, in connection with a money laundering investigation involving Care Health Insurance and its former chairperson. The BBA views this action as a direct attack on the legal profession and the rule of law, highlighting potential misuse of power by the ED. The BBA emphasizes the importance of protecting confidential communication between lawyers and clients and upholding fundamental rights. Although the summons was withdrawn, the BBA is ready to take legal action to defend the independence of the legal profession. The ED has since issued a directive requiring prior approval from its Director before issuing summons to advocates, in line with legal protections.

**News Article:**

**Bombay Bar Association Condemns ED Summons to Senior Advocates as “Attack on Rule of Law”**

**MUMBAI, June 24, 2025** – The Bombay Bar Association (BBA) has issued a scathing statement denouncing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for summoning two prominent senior advocates, Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal, during a money laundering investigation. The summons, which have since been withdrawn, sparked outrage among legal professionals, prompting the BBA to label the action a “direct attack on the legal community as a whole” and a threat to the rule of law.

The ED’s summons were related to an ongoing probe into Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs) granted by Care Health Insurance to its former chairperson, Rashmi Saluja. Mr. Datar had provided legal counsel on the ESOPs, while Mr. Venugopal served as advocate-on-record.

In its statement, the BBA expressed grave concern over the potential misuse of power by the investigative agency, warning that such actions could intimidate advocates from performing their professional duties. The association underscored the importance of safeguarding attorney-client privilege and protecting the rights of lawyers, citing the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, and Article 21 of the Constitution.

“Any attack on an Advocate, direct or indirect, has the consequence of destroying these constitutional ideals – a situation which is antithetical to the rule of law in a democratic country like India,” the statement read.

The BBA pledged its unwavering support to any legal professional targeted by investigative agencies and vowed to take legal action, including approaching the High Courts or the Supreme Court, if necessary.

Following the backlash, the ED issued a statement on June 20, 2025, withdrawing the summons to Mr. Venugopal. The agency further announced a new directive requiring prior approval from the ED Director before any summons can be issued to an advocate, ensuring compliance with Section 132 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. This directive aims to prevent similar incidents and protect the independence of the legal profession.

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