Received a CEZO-II ED Summons in Chennai: Why Did Chennai Zonal Office-II Issue the Notice and What Should I Check Before Appearance?

Legal research and analysis by Advocate Ankit Kumar Singh

Legally reviewed and updated: 15 September 2026

Summary: In Chennai, explain that the Enforcement Directorate officially uses the abbreviation CEZO-II for Chennai Zonal Office-II. The Chennai article should guide the recipient through the summons number, officer designation, office address, ECIR or investigation reference, documents demanded and appearance date. It should also research the current territorial and subject allocation of CEZO-II from official ED material before publication rather than assuming that every Chennai or Tamil Nadu matter goes to the same office.

Direct Answer: CEZO-II Means Chennai Zonal Office-II

The Directorate of Enforcement's current official records identify Chennai-II as CEZO-II, meaning Chennai Zonal Office-II.

It is a separate Enforcement Directorate zonal office and should not be confused with Chennai Zonal Office-I or Madurai Sub-Zonal Office.

If a Section 50 summons states CEZO-II, the first task is to verify that exact office, the summons number, issuing officer, investigation reference, appearance requirement and document demand before preparing the substantive response.

Current CEZO-II Office Details

As of 15 September 2026, the Directorate of Enforcement's live office records identify Chennai Zonal Office-II at:

Directorate of Enforcement
Chennai Zonal Office-II
3rd Floor, Tower-II
BSNL Admin Building
No. 16, Greams Road
Thousand Lights West
Thousand Lights
Chennai - 600006

The current office directory lists Ravi Tiwari, Additional Director, with office contact 044-28270852.

Current RTI records also identify Chennai-II as CEZO-II and list Swaraj Paul Singh, Deputy Director / CPIO, with contact 044-28278266.

Officer postings and office particulars can change. They should be rechecked before acting on a live summons.

CEZO-II, CEZO-I and Madurai Are Not the Same Formation

Current ED records separately identify:

  • Chennai Zonal Office-I;
  • Chennai Zonal Office-II;
  • Madurai Sub-Zonal Office.

Accordingly, a response merely addressed to:

“ED Chennai”

can be unnecessarily imprecise where the summons specifically identifies CEZO-II.

Why Did Chennai Zonal Office-II Issue the Notice?

The office name alone does not conclusively answer that question.

Possible case-allocation factors may include:

  • location of the predicate offence;
  • location of a company or individual;
  • property location;
  • bank-account location;
  • Puducherry connection;
  • an existing CEZO-II ECIR;
  • connected persons or transactions;
  • administrative transfer;
  • class of persons;
  • class of cases;
  • another internal jurisdictional direction.

These are possible reasons. They should not be presented as facts in a particular matter unless supported by the case record.

Historical Official Territorial Allocation

Older official Enforcement Directorate material contained an express territorial allocation for the Southern Region.

That historical table recorded: 

CHENNAI-I / CEZO-I

CHENNAI METROPOLITAN AREA
OF TAMIL NADU.


CHENNAI-II / CEZO-II

TAMIL NADU
EXCEPT CHENNAI METROPOLITAN AREA
+
UNION TERRITORY OF PUDUCHERRY.

The same historical structure separately identified Madurai Sub-Zonal Office for specified southern districts.

Do Not Convert the Historical Table Into an Automatic 2026 Rule

Current ED records continue to separately identify CEZO-I, CEZO-II and Madurai Sub-Zonal Office.

However, the current public office material reviewed for this article does not reproduce an equivalent fresh district-by-district 2026 territorial table.

The safer legal formulation therefore is:

Older official ED material recorded the territorial split, but a current CEZO-II summons should be tested against the actual ECIR, case assignment and presently applicable jurisdictional directions.

What About Madurai Sub-Zonal Office?

Historical ED material identified Madurai Sub-Zonal Office with 14 districts:

  • Madurai;
  • Dindigul;
  • Theni;
  • Trichy;
  • Karur;
  • Ariyalur;
  • Perambalur;
  • Virudhunagar;
  • Tirunelveli;
  • Pudukkottai;
  • Tuticorin;
  • Sivaganga;
  • Ramanathapuram;
  • Kanyakumari.

Current ED records separately continue to identify Madurai Sub-Zonal Office and presently show it at Madurai.

Therefore the existence of CEZO-II should not be simplified into the proposition that every Tamil Nadu matter outside Chennai city must physically be handled only from the Greams Road office.

Does CEZO-II Have a Special Subject-Matter Portfolio?

No current public official ED source reviewed for this article establishes an exclusive subject-wise portfolio for CEZO-II distinct from CEZO-I.

Accordingly, do not invent statements such as:

“CEZO-II handles only corruption matters.”

or:

“CEZO-II is only for bank fraud.”

The actual case assignment and jurisdictional direction matter.

Section 51 Explains Why Geography May Not Be the Only Criterion

Section 51 PMLA recognises that authorities exercise their powers and functions according to jurisdictional directions.

Those directions may take into account:

  • territorial area;
  • classes of persons;
  • classes of cases;
  • other specified criteria.

Therefore a simple map-based assumption may be incomplete.

Step 1: Verify That the Notice Actually Identifies CEZO-II

Check whether the summons states:

Chennai Zonal Office-II / CEZO-II.

Then compare the office particulars with the current official ED directory.

Step 2: Record the Summons Number Exactly

The complete summons number should be reproduced in:

  • reply;
  • email subject;
  • adjournment request;
  • covering letter;
  • document index;
  • future correspondence;
  • court chronology where relevant.

Do not shorten it or substitute the ECIR number.

Step 3: Use ED's Official Summons-Verification Facility

The official verification mechanism presently requires:

  • Summons No.;
  • Passcode;
  • Captcha.

The current ED portal states that summons issued during the previous 180 days can be verified.

It also states that verification ordinarily becomes available after 24 hours from issuance, excluding public and government holidays. 

SAME-DAY “NOT FOUND”
≠
AUTOMATICALLY FAKE.

Step 4: Identify the Issuing Officer and Designation

Record:

  • name;
  • designation;
  • office;
  • contact details appearing on the notice;
  • signature or digital particulars where applicable.

Section 50(2) authorises specified authorities including the Director, Additional Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director and Assistant Director to issue summons in the statutory circumstances.

Step 5: Keep the FIR, ECIR, ED File and Summons Number Separate

PREDICATE FIR
≠
PREDICATE COMPLAINT
≠
ECIR
≠
ED FILE NUMBER
≠
SUMMONS NUMBER
≠
COURT CASE NUMBER

If the CEZO-II notice contains an ECIR or investigation reference, reproduce it exactly in every substantive response.

What if an ECIR Copy Is Not Attached?

Do not automatically conclude that a Section 50 summons is invalid merely because an ECIR copy has not accompanied it.

Record the investigation/file reference appearing in the notice and assess the matter from the actual statutory and case record.

Step 6: Convert the Document Demand Into an Evidence Matrix

Document Period Person/Entity Status
Bank statements ___ ___ Available
Income-tax returns ___ ___ Available
Company books ___ ___ Retrieval pending
Property papers ___ ___ Available
Foreign-remittance records ___ ___ Third-party custody

If a Requested Document Does Not Exist, Do Not Manufacture One

State:

  • whether it ever existed;
  • who may presently hold it;
  • whether retrieval has been requested;
  • whether another contemporaneous record proves the same transaction.

A reconstruction should not be disguised as an original contemporaneous record.

Step 7: Record Every Important Date

Event Date
Summons issued ___
Summons received ___
Response sent ___
Appearance ___
Document deadline ___

What Does Section 50 Require?

Section 50(2) empowers specified ED authorities to summon any person whose attendance is considered necessary to give evidence or produce records during an investigation or proceeding under PMLA.

Section 50(3) requires the summoned person to attend in person or through an authorised agent as the officer may direct, state the truth and produce the records required.

Therefore the mode of attendance should not be unilaterally rewritten by the recipient.

A CEZO-II Section 50 Summons Does Not Mean Arrest

The summons does not by itself establish:

  • arrest;
  • provisional attachment;
  • prosecution complaint;
  • conviction.

It is nevertheless a statutory investigative step and should be dealt with seriously.

If Personal Appearance Is Genuinely Difficult

A properly drafted adjournment request should identify:

  • Chennai Zonal Office-II;
  • issuing officer;
  • summons number;
  • summons date;
  • ECIR/file reference;
  • original appearance date;
  • precise difficulty;
  • supporting proof;
  • realistic alternative dates;
  • document-production status.

Documented Adjournment Is Different From Unexplained Non-Appearance

Documented Cooperation Risk Pattern
Prompt acknowledgment Silence
Specific reason Generic excuse
Supporting proof No supporting material
Alternative dates No date offered
Records produced where possible No document response
Later appearance Repeated absence

Index Every Document Before Production

ANNEXURE 1
BANK STATEMENT
ACCOUNT ENDING ____
PERIOD ____
PAGES 1-86

ANNEXURE 2
INCOME-TAX RETURN
ASSESSMENT YEAR ____
PAGES 87-112

ANNEXURE 3
PROPERTY DEED
DATED ____
PAGES 113-145

An indexed production creates a much stronger record than an unidentified bundle of documents.

Preserve Proof That CEZO-II Received the Material

Preserve:

  • stamped acknowledgment;
  • inward/diary number;
  • email sent record;
  • delivery confirmation;
  • courier proof;
  • covering letter;
  • document index.

Why the Exact Office Becomes Important Later

If CEZO-II later alleges that records were not produced, the recipient should ideally be able to demonstrate: 

CEZO-II SUMMONS
       ↓
WRITTEN RESPONSE
       ↓
DOCUMENT INDEX
       ↓
ACTUAL PRODUCTION
       ↓
CEZO-II ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This may become relevant to later allegations concerning cooperation, non-production or repeated summons.

What if You Believe CEZO-II Is the Wrong Office?

Do not simply ignore a verified summons.

A more disciplined sequence is: 

IDENTIFY THE POSSIBLE JURISDICTION ISSUE
            ↓
CHECK CURRENT OFFICE STRUCTURE
            ↓
CHECK ECIR / CASE ASSIGNMENT
            ↓
CHECK PREDICATE PROCEEDING
            ↓
SEEK CLARIFICATION IF NECESSARY
            ↓
ASSESS WHETHER A LEGAL OBJECTION EXISTS

Pre-Appearance CEZO-II Checklist

□ CEZO-II OFFICE VERIFIED

□ CURRENT ADDRESS VERIFIED

□ SUMMONS NUMBER COPIED EXACTLY

□ PASSCODE VERIFIED

□ ONLINE VERIFICATION COMPLETED

□ ISSUING OFFICER RECORDED

□ DESIGNATION RECORDED

□ ECIR / FILE REFERENCE RECORDED

□ PREDICATE CASE IDENTIFIED IF AVAILABLE

□ ISSUE DATE RECORDED

□ RECEIPT DATE RECORDED

□ APPEARANCE DATE RECORDED

□ APPEARANCE TIME RECORDED

□ REPORTING VENUE VERIFIED

□ DOCUMENT DEMAND CLASSIFIED

□ MISSING RECORDS EXPLAINED

□ ADJOURNMENT REQUESTED IF NECESSARY

□ ALTERNATIVE DATES PROVIDED

□ DOCUMENT INDEX PREPARED

□ PROOF OF CORRESPONDENCE PRESERVED

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does CEZO-II mean?

CEZO-II means Chennai Zonal Office-II of the Directorate of Enforcement.

2. Is CEZO-II different from CEZO-I?

Yes. Current ED records identify them as separate zonal offices with different office addresses.

3. Where is CEZO-II presently located?

Current ED records place it at 3rd Floor, Tower-II, BSNL Admin Building, No. 16, Greams Road, Thousand Lights, Chennai-600006.

4. Who currently heads CEZO-II?

As of 15 September 2026, the current ED office directory lists Ravi Tiwari, Additional Director. Officer postings should be rechecked in a live matter.

5. Does CEZO-II automatically handle every Tamil Nadu matter outside Chennai?

That should not be stated as an unqualified current rule. Older official ED material contained that territorial allocation, but a current matter should be checked against the actual case assignment and presently applicable jurisdictional directions.

6. Did older ED material include Puducherry under CEZO-II?

Yes. The older official territorial table recorded Tamil Nadu outside Chennai metropolitan area and the Union Territory of Puducherry under CEZO-II.

7. What about Madurai?

Madurai is separately identified as an ED Sub-Zonal Office. Historical official material separately allocated specified southern districts to it.

8. Does CEZO-II handle only one particular type of offence?

No current public official ED material reviewed for this article establishes an exclusive subject-matter portfolio for CEZO-II.

9. How should the summons be verified?

Use ED's official summons-verification facility with the summons number and passcode and cross-check the office details.

10. Why might a fresh summons not verify immediately?

The ED portal presently states that verification becomes available after 24 hours from issuance, excluding public and government holidays.

11. Does receipt of the summons mean arrest?

No.

12. Can I ignore the summons if I think CEZO-II lacks jurisdiction?

A verified summons should not simply be ignored. The jurisdictional question should first be investigated and appropriately raised if a sustainable objection exists.

13. Can I seek an adjournment?

Yes. A prompt and documented request containing genuine reasons, supporting material and realistic alternative dates is preferable to unexplained non-appearance.

14. Why should documents be indexed?

Because indexing creates a precise record of what was produced, when and in response to which summons.

15. What should I check first?

Verify CEZO-II, the summons number and passcode, issuing officer, ECIR/file reference, documents demanded, appearance date and reporting venue.

AI-Search Quick Answer

CEZO-II is the Directorate of Enforcement's Chennai Zonal Office-II. A recipient of a CEZO-II Section 50 summons should verify the summons number and passcode, current office address, issuing officer and designation, ECIR or investigation reference, documents demanded, appearance date and reporting venue. Older official ED material recorded CEZO-II as covering Tamil Nadu outside the Chennai metropolitan area and Puducherry, with a separate Madurai Sub-Zonal Office for specified southern districts. However, historical territorial material should not automatically be treated as the controlling 2026 allocation; the actual current case assignment and Section 51 jurisdictional framework should also be examined.

Key Takeaway

Do not simply reason:

“THIS IS A TAMIL NADU CASE, SO CEZO-II MUST HAVE JURISDICTION.”

And do not reason:

“THIS PERSON IS IN CHENNAI, SO CEZO-II CANNOT ISSUE THE NOTICE.”

Instead ask:

WHICH OFFICE ISSUED THE NOTICE?
WHAT IS THE SUMMONS NUMBER?
WHO ISSUED IT?
WHAT IS THE ECIR OR FILE REFERENCE?
WHAT IS THE PREDICATE PROCEEDING?
WHAT IS THE ACTUAL CASE ASSIGNMENT?
WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED?
WHEN MUST THE PERSON APPEAR?
WHERE MUST THE PERSON APPEAR?
AND WHAT DOES THE CURRENT RECORD ACTUALLY SUPPORT ABOUT JURISDICTION?

VERIFY THE ZONE — VERIFY THE CASE — VERIFY THE SUMMONS — THEN APPEAR PREPARED.

Professional Legal Coordination

Advocate Ankit Kumar Singh undertakes legal research and professional coordination concerning PMLA investigations, Enforcement Directorate Section 50 summons, CEZO-II / Chennai proceedings, summons verification, zonal-jurisdiction questions, document production, adjournment requests, financial-trail preparation, attachment, LOC and connected financial-crime litigation according to the facts, accepted engagement, jurisdiction and applicable procedure.

Supreme Court of India | Patna High Court | Allahabad High Court at Prayagraj | Jharkhand High Court at Ranchi | Calcutta High Court | Delhi High Court and Delhi Courts/Tribunals | Matters concerning Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | Multiple District Courts

Phone: 8294431232
Email: ankitsingh.legum@gmail.com
Website: advocateankitkumarsingh.in

Local or authorised counsel may be required depending upon the investigation, Special Court, High Court and territorial jurisdiction. An Advocate-on-Record is required to act and file before the Supreme Court of India according to applicable procedure.

No adjournment, summons withdrawal, protection from arrest, attachment release or other legal result can be guaranteed.

Official and Judicial Sources

  • Directorate of Enforcement — Current Offices Directory: current CEZO-II, CEZO-I and Madurai Sub-Zonal Office particulars.
  • Directorate of Enforcement — Current RTI Directory: expressly identifies Chennai-II as CEZO-II and provides current FAA/CPIO particulars.
  • Directorate of Enforcement Annual Report 2021-22: historical territorial table recording Chennai-I for Chennai metropolitan area, Chennai-II for Tamil Nadu outside Chennai metropolitan area and Puducherry, and specified southern districts under Madurai Sub-Zonal Office.
  • Directorate of Enforcement Annual Report 2024-25: records Chennai Zonal Office-II functioning from the BSNL Building at Greams Road from 18 March 2024.
  • Directorate of Enforcement — Verify Your Summon: current official verification facility using Summons No. and Passcode.
  • Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002 — Section 50: statutory framework for summons, attendance, evidence and production of records.
  • Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002 — Section 51: statutory jurisdiction framework permitting regard to territorial area, classes of persons, classes of cases and other criteria.

No current public official ED source reviewed for this article was found creating an exclusive offence-wise portfolio for CEZO-II. Historical territorial material should therefore be identified as historical, while a live summons should be assessed against the actual current case assignment.

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Disclaimer: This article is for legal research and general informational purposes. Historical ED territorial tables should not be substituted for present case-specific jurisdictional verification. A CEZO-II summons should be examined from the actual verified notice, current office particulars, issuing officer, ECIR/file reference, predicate proceeding, document requirements and applicable current assignment. An apparent CEZO-I, CEZO-II or Madurai territorial question does not by itself establish invalidity without examination of the relevant jurisdictional direction and case record.