HC questions ED's TASMAC raids: 'Is it not an alarming situation?'

DIRECTS ED NOT TO PROCEED FURTHER

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In a temporary reprieve for the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), the Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not to proceed further with its investigation based on the recent searches conducted at the state-run liquor retailer's headquarters.

Issuing an oral direction to the ED, a division bench comprising Justices M S Ramesh and N Senthilkumar instructed the central agency to produce copies of the First Information Report (FIR), the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), and any other material relied upon against TASMAC. The court scheduled the next hearing for March 25, following petitions filed by TASMAC and the Tamil Nadu government challenging the ED's searches.

During the hearing, the bench raised concerns regarding the manner in which the searches were conducted. "Is it not an alarming situation? If you have a specific input, we understand. But can you keep an entire office under your control for hours together? If you have reason to believe, should You not communicate it to them? That is their grievance, that they do not know,” the bench observed. TASMAC and the state government argued that the ED’s actions were excessive and beyond its jurisdiction. The corporation alleged that its employees were subjected to undue harassment, including prolonged detainment and confiscation of their mobile phones.