Sand Mining Probe: Madras HC to Pronounce Order on Plea Against ED Summons Tomorrow

The Madras High Court will pronounce orders on Tuesday regarding the petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Government and five district collectors challenging the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with its investigation into alleged illegal sand mining in the state.

A division bench comprising Justices S S Sundar and Sundar Mohan, reserved orders for November 28 on the petition filed by the state Public Department Secretary K Nanthakumar on behalf of the Collectors of Ariyalur, Vellore, Thanjavur, Karur, and Tiruchirapalli. The petition seeks to quash the summons issued by the ED, which asked the Collectors to appear in person on various dates with details of sand mining in their respective districts.

The bench reserved orders after hearing extensive arguments from senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the state government, and Additional Solicitor General A R L Sunderesan, representing the ED.

In the petition, Nanthakumar argued that under the guise of investigation, the ED has issued summons to various district collectors, seeking information on all sand mines in their district in a fishing and roving inquiry.