ED cannot be a law unto itself, says SC

NT Correspondent

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate “cannot be a law unto itself ”, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday while granting interim protection to two accused persons in an alleged liquor scam worth Rs 2,000 crore in Chhattisgarh.

A bench consisting of Justices SK Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia has issued a directive ordering the ED and the Uttar Pradesh Police to refrain from taking any action against Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Anil Tuteja and his son Yash Tuteja in a new case originating from Noida.

The ED alleges that a syndicate involving state government officials, politicians, and other individuals collaborated to manipulate the procurement of liquor by a state-owned company.

The alleged scheme required those procuring liquor to pay a commission of Rs 75 per case of country liquor. The ED contends that this syndicate illicitly amassed over Rs 2,000 crore, funds that should have rightfully contributed to the state's treasury.

Among the petitioners in this case is the Chhattisgarh government, which asserts that the Enforcement Directorate has been conducting its investigation outside its jurisdiction and with the objective of implicating Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.