In the case filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the summons sent to collectors to appear for the inquiry into illegal sand quarries, the Enforcement Department made some sensational arguments.
On September 12, 2023, the Enforcement Department conducted surprise raids at 34 places, including sand quarries, storage yards, and the homes of quarry owners, in Tamil Nadu. In this, Rs.12.82 crores in cash and 1,024 grams of gold were seized.
In this case, the Enforcement Department had sent summons to 10 district collectors, including the Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Department, Muthiah, to appear in person.
Following this, the Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Department, Muthiah, appeared in person at the Enforcement Department office and explained. In the meantime, a case was filed in the Chennai High Court challenging the summons sent to the collectors by the Tamil Nadu government and the five district collectors.
In it, it was alleged that the Enforcement Department was abusing its power and conducting raids beyond the limits, and that the Enforcement Department was acting with an ulterior motive as a puppet of the Central government to disrupt the state administration.
Furthermore, it was alleged that minerals were not included in the Illegal Money Laundering Prevention Act, and that in such a case, the Enforcement Department does not have the authority to send summons to district collectors. It was also alleged that the Enforcement Department had sent this summons to harass state government officials, in a manner that is contrary to the federal principle and beyond the jurisdiction.
This case came up for hearing today in the Chennai High Court before a bench of Justices S.S.Sunder and Sundar Mohan. On that occasion, the lawyer for the Tamil Nadu government, Dhushyanth Dave, argued that the Enforcement Department cannot conduct an inquiry on the basis of a law that is not included in the Illegal Money Laundering Prevention Act, and that it is within the exclusive authority of the state government to investigate illegal sand quarries.
The Enforcement Department raided 34 places in Tamil Nadu on September 12, 2023, and seized Rs.12.82 crores in cash and 1,024 grams of gold. The Enforcement Department then summoned 10 district collectors and the Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Department to appear for an inquiry.
The Tamil Nadu government challenged the summons, arguing that the Enforcement Department was abusing its power and that it did not have the authority to investigate illegal sand quarries. The Enforcement Department argued that it had the authority to investigate the case under the Illegal Money Laundering Prevention Act.
The case is currently being heard in the Chennai High Court.