Do not harass Tamil Nadu district collectors, SC tells ED in money-laundering case
The state government told the court that the central agency made the officials wait from morning till evening during questioning.
Join our WhatsApp Community to receive travel deals, free stays, and special offers!
- Join Now -
Join our WhatsApp Community to receive travel deals, free stays, and special offers!
- Join Now -
The Supreme Court on Monday verbally directed the Enforcement Directorate not to harass the five district collectors from Tamil Nadu who had been summoned for questioning in a money-laundering case, The Indian Express reported.
A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal made the remark while taking note of the Tamil Nadu government’s statements that the district collectors of Vellore, Tiruchirappalli, Karur, Thanjavur and Ariyalur were made to wait from morning till evening by the central agency.
The case pertains to allegations of irregularities and malpractices in the mining and sale of river sand in Tamil Nadu. The Enforcement Directorate is investigating allegations of money laundering linked to the case based on first information reports registered across the state.
On November 28, the Madras High Court had stayed the summons to the district collectors, after which the central agency approached the top court. The Supreme Court on February 27 stayed the High Court order and asked the district collectors to appear before the Enforcement Directorate.
On Monday, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, told the court that the district collectors had appeared for questioning. However, Sibal said that the central agency “made them arrive at 8 in the morning and sit till 6”.
In response, the court told the Enforcement...
