Thu Apr 17 10:07:50 UTC 2025: ## ED Denies Human Rights Violations in TASMAC Raid
**Chennai, April 17, 2025** – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) vehemently denied allegations of human rights violations during its March 6-8 search of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) headquarters in Chennai. The denial came during a hearing before the Madras High Court, where the Tamil Nadu government and TASMAC filed petitions claiming that officials were subjected to mistreatment.
The ED, represented by Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, presented panchanamas (official records) from the search, asserting that TASMAC officials were given adequate rest, and female employees were allowed to leave in the evenings. The ED argued that these records, signed by TASMAC officials, indicate no initial complaints of human rights violations. The complaints, the ED claimed, only surfaced after the writ petitions were filed, suggesting they were instigated by lawyers. The ED also highlighted that the TASMAC Managing Director, an IAS officer, would have certainly voiced concerns if any harassment had occurred. The ED maintained the search was conducted peacefully and data was copied legally, with the assistance of technical experts and in the presence of TASMAC officials.
However, the Advocate General of Tamil Nadu, P.S. Raman, questioned the legality of the search, pointing out that the ED allegedly failed to comply with Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by delaying the submission of the “reasons to believe” statement to the adjudicating authority by six days.
The High Court judges reviewed the “reasons to believe” document in a sealed cover and subsequently returned it. The case has been adjourned until April 21, 2025, to allow for a short reply from TASMAC’s counsel before a judgment is reserved.
First Piper 