Madras HC halts ED's summons to TN officials in sand mining probe

The Madras High Court intervened to halt the enforcement of summons directed at five district collectors by the Enforcement Directorate. The summons was issued in connection with the agency's investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act concerning alleged illegal sand mining activities in the state. A division bench, consisting of Justices S S Sundar and Sundar Mohan, provided the interim stay following a petition filed by the secretary of the state public department, K Nanthakumar. The bench clarified that the Enforcement Directorate could proceed with its investigation into the purported sand mining activities in the state. The plea was submitted on behalf of the district collectors of Ariyalur, Vellore, Thanjavur, Karur, and Tiruchirapalli by the top public department official. The petition aimed to annul the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate, instructing them to appear in person on various dates and provide details related to sand mining in their respective districts. In response to the objection petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate, the bench directed the state government and the five district collectors to submit their reply affidavit. The further hearing of the case is scheduled for December 21.