Supreme Court Warns Nowhera Shaik Over Sale of Attached Properties, Directs Cooperation With ED.


10 October 2025 Writ Petition >> Criminal Law   |   Property/Real Estate Law >> Property & Real Estate  

In a noteworthy turn of events, the Supreme Court of India on October 10, 2025, showed severe displeasure with the reports that Nowhera Shaik, the respondent in an ongoing enforcement case, had disposed of properties already attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The bench consisting of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan was hearing Miscellaneous Application No. 2227 of 2024 in relation to the previous writ petition (Criminal) No. 31 of 2020.

While the proceedings were on, ED's lawyer Mr. Annam Venkatesh informed the Court that the accused had purportedly entered into sale agreements of four attached flats and received around Rs. 50 crore as sale consideration. ED further updated the Court that other attached properties had been successfully sold by auction at around Rs. 93 crore but execution of sale deeds was being hampered due to the uncooperative attitude of the accused.


 

 

The bench seriously noted these disclosures and ordered the accused to appear before the ED on a date intimated in order to carry out the pending sale deeds, warning that any default would attract coercive proceedings. The Court also directed the ED to file an affidavit under oath by a responsible officer specifying the illegal sale of the four flats.

The Enforcement Directorate was also requested to provide bank account details to be possibly frozen on the basis of their possible connection with the disputed transactions. The bench made it clear that the ED could act under Section 102 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which has been substituted by Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Senior counsel Dama Sheshadri Naidu, representing one of the intervenors, pointed out that his client's property had been erroneously attached even though he had a valid civil court decree. The Supreme Court directed the ED to temporarily hold back further proceedings on that particular property—7 acres of land at Tolichowki Village in Hyderabad—until further scrutiny.

In a strict warning, the Court noted that any media or public statements by the accused or her acquaintances which would hamper the implementation of court orders would be dealt with as contempt of court.

The case has been fixed for hearing on November 17, 2025, along with associated pleadings, indicating the Court's resolve to keep a close watch on compliance.


Section 106, BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA - 2023  

BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023