The Delhi High Court on Friday directed former union minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader YS Chowdary to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday in connection with allegations of money laundering and financial irregularities.

The High Court further said no coercive steps can be taken against him in the case. The direction came after Chowdary approached the Delhi High Court on Friday seeking quashing of summons issued against him by the ED.

The ED had issued summons to Chowdary on November 24 and 27, after the investigative agency raided residential premises of Chowdary. During the raids, the ED seized six high-end cars (Ferrari, Range Rover, Benz), which are allegedly registered in the name of dummy companies. These vehicles were seized under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), the ED had said in a statement.

Chowdary, however, alleged that he was being harassed due to political vendetta by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Refuting all charges against him, Chowdary had stated that all the companies established by him were "law-abiding and fully complied with all regulations.

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