TASMAC issue: Madras High Court directs ED not to proceed further
In a temporary relief to TASMAC, the Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not to proceed further pursuant to its searches at the state-run liquor retailer’s headquarters in the city recently.
While giving an oral direction to ED in this connection, the HC also directed the central agency to produce copies of FIR and Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) along with any other materials which it relied upon against the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation.
After conducting searches at TASMAC earlier this month, ED had recently claimed irregularities to the tune of about ₹ 1,000 crore.
A division bench comprising Justices M S Ramesh and N Senthilkumar posted to March 25, further hearing of the petitions filed by TASMAC and the Tamil Nadu government against the searches conducted by ED.
In its petition, TASMAC sought a direction to the ED not to harass its employees under the guise of investigation. It also sought a declaration that the ED’s action of investigating the offence within the territorial limits of the State was violative of federalism.
When the case came up for hearing, Advocate General P S Raman, appearing for the state government submitted the ED can conduct searches with the consent of the State. They cannot do it without getting consent from the state government.
When the bench orally expressed its dissatisfaction over the prayer, the AG sought time to file an application to amend the prayer.