<h1>ED cannot freeze assets without predicate offence, lacks authority to act as super cop</h1> The Madras High Court set aside an Enforcement Directorate order freezing Rs 901 crore in fixed deposits belonging to a power generation company. The ED action stemmed from a 2014 CBI FIR regarding coal block allocation for a power plant, which the CBI initially closed in 2017 finding no irregularities. However, the CBI court disagreed and ordered further investigation. In 2023, CBI filed a supplementary report finding sufficient evidence for prosecution under corruption charges. The court observed that ED cannot act as a 'drone to attack at will' or 'super cop' investigating everything. Under PMLA Section 66(2), if ED discovers other law violations during investigation, it must inform appropriate agencies rather than assume investigating powers. The court emphasized that ED requires a predicate offence to seize jurisdiction, comparing it to a 'limpet mine attached to a ship' - without the ship (predicate offence), the limpet cannot function. Since no complaint was lodged regarding alleged criminal activities, ED lacked authority to proceed independently.