The Supreme Court on Monday told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not to unnecessarily harass the district collectors in Tamil Nadu who were summoned by the central agency for questioning in a money laundering case related to allegations of illegal sand mining in the State [Directorate of Enforcement vs State of Tamil Nadu and ors].A Bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal issued the note of warning after the Tamil Nadu government alleged that the collectors were made to wait at the ED's office from 8 in the morning till 6 in the evening."They (ED) made them (collectors) arrive at 8 in the morning and sit till 6!" Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal told the Court."You (ED) cannot do that. Do not keep them waiting, they have to tend to their districts," Justice Trivedi said."Do not harass them unnecessarily," Justice Mithal added.The Court was hearing an appeal filed by the ED against the Madras High Court's decision to stay the ED's summons to the five district collectors in Tamil Nadu.The High Court had opined that the ED's summons appeared to be part of a fishing expedition and that, prima facie, the ED had no jurisdiction to issue the summons to any of the district collectors.The ED challenged this High Court order and in February this year, the Supreme Court lifted the High Court's stay. At the time, Supreme Court also remarked that it was strange and unusual for the Tamil Nadu government to have moved the High Court in the first place against the ED summons.Last month, the top court also expressed strong disapproval over the collectors' failure to appear before the ED, despite having been directed to adhere to the summons.During today's hearing. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal represented the Tamil Nadu government and submitted that the documents sought by the ED have been supplied.However, the counsel representing the ED disputed the submission and said that the documents were not produced."No they have not. Let me supply on affidavit. In their statements they said they will give later, let me place in some weeks time," Advocate Zoheb Hossain submitted.Allowing the request, the Court adjourned the matter to a date after vacations and asked the central agency to file a compliance affidavit before the next date of hearing
TAGS: Supreme Court Enforcement Directorate Tamil Nadu district collectors money laundering illegal sand mining warning jurisdiction summons
