The Madras High Court has ordered three ED officials — including an Assistant Director and two senior PMLA authorities — to appear in person before the court on December 15.The summons comes after the ED allegedly violated a previous court order while investigating the alleged ₹1,000-crore TASMAC liquor scam.
The root of the conflict lies in a summons issued by the ED to film-producer Akash Baskaran. The court had earlier stayed all money-laundering proceedings connected to the TASMAC case — effectively barring further action. But despite that order, the ED went ahead and called Baskaran. This prompted Baskaran to file a contempt petition against the agency.
In the hearing, the division bench — comprising Justices M. S. Ramesh and V. Lakshminarayanan — asked pointedly why the ED officials did not appear in court even after their appeal against the stay was dismissed by the Supreme Court of India. The judges remarked that the statutory notice required their personal appearance and questioned their absence.
The case traces back to raids conducted by the ED at properties linked to Baskaran and a businessman after suspicion of a massive liquor-related scam tied to TASMAC. The ED seized documents during these raids. Later, the High Court ruled that the ED did not have the power to “lock and seal” premises and ordered the seized documents returned. The court also restrained the ED from proceeding further on the basis of those documents — until further notice.
Despite this clear directive, the ED is said to have summoned Baskaran — triggering the contempt action and now court-ordered appearance of its officials.
The court’s action underscores the seriousness with which it views compliance with its orders. A contempt summons is a formal legal measure used when a court believes its orders have been deliberately defied or ignored. If found guilty, ED officials could face penalties as per law. The case highlights growing tensions between investigative agencies and judicial oversight — especially in high-profile financial scandals such as the TASMAC probe.
For Baskaran and others under investigation, the High Court’s intervention means there will be closer scrutiny of ED’s actions — and possibly stricter boundaries on how and when investigations proceed.