Madras HC Stays ED’s Summons To TN Officials In ‘Illegal Sand Mining Probe’

The Madras High Court on Tuesday has stayed the operation of the summons issued to 5 district collectors by the ED in connection with its probe under the PMLA into the alleged illegal sand mining in the state.

A division bench comprising Justices SS Sundar and Sundar Mohan granted the interim stay on the petition filed by state public department secretary K Nanthakumar.

However, the bench, stated that ED can go ahead with its probe into the alleged sand mining in the state.

The top public department official filed a plea on behalf of the district collectors of Ariyalur, Vellore, Thanjavur, Karur and Tiruchirapalli.

The petition sought to quash the summons issued by the ED which asked them to appear in person on various dates with details related to sand mining in their respective districts.

Directing the state government and the 5 district collectors to file their reply affidavit to the objection petition filed by the ED, the bench posted the matter for further hearing on December 21.