High Court Drama: TASMAC vs. Enforcement Directorate

The Madras High Court's division bench, comprising Justices M S Ramesh and N Senthilkumar, recused itself from hearing petitions by TASMAC and the Tamil Nadu government challenging ED searches. The ED alleges financial fraud involving unaccounted cash through illicit payments. TASMAC claims harassment and jurisdictional overreach by the ED.

The division bench of the Madras High Court, including Justices M S Ramesh and N Senthilkumar, has dramatically recused itself from the critical petitions lodged by TASMAC and the Tamil Nadu government. These petitions were aimed at challenging the legitimacy of recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches.

TASMAC and the state's executive had approached the court following ED's raids on their premises, with the bench initially directing the ED to provide detailed reports such as the FIR and Enforcement Case Information Report. Despite this, the bench halted further hearings until March 25, as it declined to elaborate on its recusal.

The ED has accused TASMAC of serious financial misconduct involving distilleries and bottlers through unaccounted cash generation and illicit payments. While TASMAC has labeled the ED's actions as harassment, questioning their jurisdiction, concerns of federalism violations have also been raised.

(With inputs from agencies.)