Writ jurisdiction remains available despite alternate remedies, but interim protection fails without a prima facie case and balance of convenience.

Maintainability of a writ petition through an authorised political-party representative was recognised because the National Working Committee was the party's highest executive authority. Alternate remedies under the anti-money-laundering framework did not bar writ review of the ECIR initiation and allegedly arbitrary freezing action, particularly where merits required pleadings. Interim protection was nevertheless refused because the freezing order identified substantial transfers to multiple entities whose legality could not be decided at that stage, while other unfrozen accounts remained available and no prima facie case or balance of convenience was shown. The matter was directed to proceed on affidavits.

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Issues: (i) Whether the writ petition was maintainable through the authorised representative of the political party; (ii) whether the availability of remedies before the Adjudicating Authority and appellate fora under the anti-money-laundering framework barred the writ petition; and (iii) whether interim protection against the ECIR proceedings and freezing order was warranted.

Analysis: The authorisation issued by a member of the National Working Committee was valid because that Committee was the party's highest executive authority. The challenge to the initiation of the ECIR and the alleged arbitrariness of the freezing action could be considered in writ jurisdiction notwithstanding alternate statutory remedies, particularly as the merits required pleadings. The freezing order recorded analysis of substantial fund transfers to several entities; the legality of those transfers could not be adjudicated at the interim stage. The petitioners also had other unfrozen accounts containing substantial funds, and no prima facie case or balance of convenience supported interim protection.

Outcome: Interim relief was refused, and the matter was directed to proceed on affidavits.

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