The Madras High Court has deferred its decision in the case filed by the Tamil Nadu government and Tasmac challenging the Directorate of Enforcement’s (ED) raid proceedings. Although all oral arguments were completed, the court posted the matter to Monday to allow Tasmac to file a rejoinder.A division bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and K. Rajasekar is hearing the petitions. The delay comes after the Enforcement Directorate refuted Tasmac’s allegations of human rights violations during the raid.
Additional Solicitor General (Supreme Court) S.V. Raju, appearing for the ED, denied any misconduct. He pointed out that Tasmac officials had signed declarations during the raids without raising any complaints about harassment, including from women officers. “It is not their case that the declaration proceedings were falsely drawn,” he added.
The ED submitted a sealed document explaining its reasons for believing money laundering may have occurred. The agency stated that the raids were based on FIRs filed by the Tamil Nadu government itself in previous years—some dating back to 2017. These FIRs involve serious allegations, including bribery, overpricing of liquor, and tender manipulation.
Though the bench was initially inclined to reserve orders after the ED’s submissions, senior counsel Vikas Singh, representing Tasmac, requested time until Monday to respond. The court granted the request and will hear the rejoinder before reserving its order.