Union govt should stop misusing ED, says DMK
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The Supreme Court staying the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe against state-run liquor retailer Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation TASMAC ) is a "big blow" to the BJP's efforts to use the central probe agency to cast a shadow on the DMK's growing popularity, senior DMK leader RS Bharathi said on Thursday."The Union government should stop misusing ED at least after this," the former MP said while addressing reporters. "In Tamil Nadu, the Stalin-led DMK government that assumed office in 2021 has been gaining popularity and the chief minister's stature has been rising. Unable to digest this and the DMK alliance's electoral triumph after 2021, the ED was used to malign the party and the BJP leaders used to make all kinds of charges," he said.Bharathi's comments came after the SC stayed the money laundering probe against TASMAC over alleged corruption in grant of wine shop licences. He added that the party welcomed the decision while highlighting that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, the ED has been used against non-BJP ruled states. He went on to say that the recent searches undertaken by ED were timed "seven-eight months" ahead of the state elections in Tamil Nadu. Further, he alleged that the ED has become a "blackmailing organisation."
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