Supreme Court Rebukes ED Over TASMAC Raids
The Supreme Court of India has strongly reprimanded the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over its recent raids on TASMAC, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation. Observing that the agency was “crossing all limits,” the court raised serious concerns about federal overreach and improper use of investigative powers in a matter already under state jurisdiction.
The hearing was in response to a plea filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the ED’s actions, alleging that the raids violated the federal structure and bypassed due process.
Court Questions Legal Basis of ED Action
A bench headed by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice A.G. Masih pointedly questioned the ED’s authority in targeting a state-run entity like TASMAC. The court noted that over 40 FIRs had already been registered by the state police since 2014 concerning liquor license allotments, implying the matter was actively being handled by the state.
The judges indicated that the ED’s move could disrupt the constitutional balance between Centre and State, especially when the latter has shown initiative in addressing alleged irregularities internally.
Supreme Court Issues Notice and Grants Stay
After reviewing the petition, the Supreme Court issued a formal notice to the ED and stayed all proceedings linked to the TASMAC raids until further orders. The agency has been given two weeks to respond.
This stay acts as a significant temporary relief to the Tamil Nadu government, which has repeatedly alleged that the ED is being used to harass opposition-ruled states under the guise of anti-corruption investigations.
Political Reactions Escalate
The ruling has triggered sharp political reactions. Senior DMK leader R.S. Bharathi hailed the Supreme Court’s intervention as a blow to what he described as “the BJP’s campaign to malign the Tamil Nadu government.” He accused the ED of acting as a “blackmailing organization” and said that the agency’s interference was not just legally questionable, but also politically motivated.
The DMK has consistently maintained that central agencies are being misused to target opposition parties, and the court’s remarks are likely to add fuel to this allegation in the ongoing national political discourse.
