TASMAC Scam: Tamil Nadu Moves Supreme Court to Challenge ED Raids, Hearing Set for May 22

Supreme Court to Challenge ED Raids

The Tamil Nadu government has taken the ongoing TASMAC corruption probe to the Supreme Court, seeking urgent relief against the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) recent actions. The apex court is expected to hear the matter on May 22, following a request from the state for an expedited hearing ahead of the summer recess.

ED Raids Uncover Alleged ₹1,000 Crore Scam

Between March 6 and 9, the ED carried out extensive raids at the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) headquarters and various liquor factories in Chennai. The agency claims to have uncovered irregularities involving nearly ₹1,000 crore, allegedly funneled through fraudulent transactions by breweries and liquor bottling units. These funds were reportedly used to secure contracts and offer kickbacks.

The raids triggered widespread political debate, especially after Minister V. Senthilbalaji questioned the legality of the ED’s operation, pointing out the absence of a clearly cited FIR. The Tamil Nadu government, along with TASMAC, subsequently filed a petition in the Madras High Court, alleging that the ED raids were unconstitutional and that TASMAC employees—especially women staff—were harassed during the searches.

High Court Rules in Favour of ED

In a major setback for the state, the Madras High Court dismissed the petition on April 23. The court ruled that the allegations of financial crime made by the ED were serious and required in-depth investigation. It further stated that the court’s role is not to intervene based on claims of political motives unless there's proof of legal violations.

The bench also criticized the state for allegedly using women employees as a shield to resist the ED’s actions and upheld the agency’s right to carry out its investigation without obstruction.

Fresh Raids Deepen Political Tensions

Following the High Court verdict, the ED intensified its investigation. Recent raids targeted the homes of TASMAC Managing Director Visakan, film producer Akash Bhaskaran, and businessman Ratheesh. All three were questioned by ED officials, and Visakan was reportedly grilled for several hours.

These developments have intensified political tensions in Tamil Nadu. The opposition has alleged that individuals like Akash Bhaskaran and Ratheesh have close ties to the DMK leadership, further fueling accusations of large-scale corruption involving those close to the ruling party.

Tamil Nadu Seeks SC Relief

Faced with mounting pressure, the Tamil Nadu government has now moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Madras High Court’s decision and calling for urgent intervention. A request was made to the SC Registry to list the matter for hearing before the court breaks for summer. The Registrar has confirmed that the case will be heard on May 22.

Legal experts suggest that the state will likely argue the ED’s actions were excessive and lacked due legal backing, while the central agency is expected to maintain that it acted based on strong evidence and existing complaints, including 41 FIRs filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) against TASMAC officials.

Final Word

The Supreme Court hearing could prove decisive in determining the course of this high-stakes corruption investigation. As the legal and political drama unfolds, all eyes are now on the apex court, which will weigh in on the balance between federal investigative powers and state rights in a politically sensitive case.