New Delhi, May 22 (HS): The Supreme Court has halted the ED’s investigation into liquor outlets in Tamil Nadu. The bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai stated that the ED is crossing all boundaries. How can it raid a corporation? You are violating the federal structure of the country.

Previously, the Madras High Court had dismissed the Tamil Nadu government’s petition. On April 23, the Madras High Court rejected the petition of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, thereby endorsing the ED’s actions. The Tamil Nadu government challenged this order of the Madras High Court in the Supreme Court.

The case concerns raids conducted by the ED from March 6 to March 8 at the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation’s(TASMAC) headquarters on allegations that TASMAC officials had been engaging in overpricing of liquor bottles, tender manipulation and bribery, leading to financial irregularities of over 1,000 crores.The Tamil Nadu government claimed that the ED’s raids were politically motivated. The state government insisted that the ED should seek permission from the state government before conducting any raids.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar