Sand Mining Case: Supreme Court Allows ED To Proceed With Tamil Nadu Collector Summonses, Here's All That Has Happened So Far

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (27 February) suspended the Madras High Court's interim order that had stayed the summonses issued to district collectors in Tamil Nadu by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with alleged illegal sand mining-money laundering cases.

Granting interim relief in response to an ED petition, the apex court directed the district collectors to appear and respond to the summonses issued by the ED on the next indicated date as per a report by Livelaw.

The ED had earlier seized a large number of excavators, allegedly used in unauthorised sand mining in Tamil Nadu, and had also frozen the bank accounts of sand lifting contractors.

The bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal noted that the state's petition before the high court appeared to be based on a "misconception of law". It emphasised that state governments are obligated to ensure compliance with laws made by Parliament.

The case revolves around the ED's investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act into alleged illegal sand mining activities in Tamil Nadu.

The state government challenged the ED's jurisdiction to issue summonses to district collectors, arguing that the investigated offencess were not scheduled offences under the anti-money laundering statute.

The ED, however, contended that the investigation pertained to offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, which are within its jurisdiction.

The case has raised questions about the powers of the ED to investigate across different districts and the extent to which state officials are required to cooperate with central agencies in such investigations.

Also read - Nearly Every South Indian State Has A Sand Mining Problem