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New Indian Express
07-08-2025
- New Indian Express
Madras HC slaps Rs 30,000 costs on ED for not filing counter affidavits in Tasmac scam case
CHENNAI: In what is considered to be a first-of-its-kind move, the Madras High Court on Wednesday imposed costs of Rs 10,000 each, for three petitions, on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for failing to file counter affidavits to the petitions moved by film producer Akash Bhaskaran and businessman Vikram Ravindran over the search and seizure operations held in their offices and residences for money laundering connected to the alleged Tasmac scam. The order imposing costs was passed by a division bench of Justices M S Ramesh and V Lakshminarayanan after taking seriously the failure of the ED to file the counter affidavits despite giving it a last chance. The bench termed it 'unfair' on the part of the central agency for not having come up with the counter affidavit. Special public prosecutor N Ramesh, appearing for ED, submitted that the counter affidavit was being prepared as a comprehensive one encompassing the three petitions and so, it could not be completed on time. He sought more time to file it.
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Time of India
TASMAC liquor scam: Madras HC imposes Rs 30000 cost on ED for failing to respond to a contempt plea
Madras high court CHENNAI: In a setback to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Madras high court on Wednesday imposed Rs 30,000 as a cost on the agency for failing to file its counter affidavit in a contempt of court proceeding initiated by film producer Akash Bhaskaran in connection with the alleged Rs 1,000 TASMAC liquor scam. A division bench of Justice M S Ramesh and Justice V Lakshminarayanan imposed the cost as the ED sought more time to file its counter despite taking several adjournments. The issue pertains to an ongoing investigation into the alleged Rs 1,000 crore liquor scam involving TASMAC and its officials. In connection with the case, the ED conducted searches at properties linked to film producer Akash Bhaskaran and businessman Vikram Ravindran, during which documents were seized from Bhaskaran. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Subsequently, pointing out that the ED lacks the power to lock and seal a premises, the High Court directed the ED to return the seized documents to Akash Bhaskaran and restrained the agency from taking any further action based on those documents. However, since the ED summoned Akash Bhaskaran despite the restraining order, the bench on July 23 censured the ED for violating the court orders. The court also granted liberty to the film producer to move a contempt of court petition against the ED if necessary. Subsequently, the producer filed a contempt petition against the ED, claiming that despite the court's earlier order, the ED issued a notice regarding the documents through its appellate authority. When the plea came up for hearing on Wednesday, counsel for the ED sought some more time to file its counter. Recording its displeasure over the agency's action, the court imposed the cost to be deposited to the Chief Justice's relief fund and adjourned the hearing to August 20.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
ED tells HC it has no power to seal premises
Chennai: The Enforcement Directorate has submitted before the Madras High Court that it has no power to seal the premises, if the same was locked at the time of making search under the provisions of PMLA. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju made the submission when the petitions filed by film producer Akash Bhaskaran and businessman Vikram Ravindran came up for hearing before a division bench comprising Justices M S Ramesh and V Lakshminarayanan on Wednesday. In their petitions, Akash and Vikram challenged the action of ED in conducting the search at their residence and office and sealing the same. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo When the case came up, the bench questioned the power of ED to seal the premises. Raju submitted that the central prove agency has no power to seal the premises. However, it has powers under section 17 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to break open the lock. But, the ED did not want to escalate the situation, he added. Live Events He also informed the bench that the ED was instructed to withdraw the notice pasted on the premises of the petitioners and to return all the seized material. Following this, the bench reserved orders on the interim applications and posted after four weeks, the hearing on the main petitions.
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Business Standard
19-06-2025
- Business Standard
Can't seal locked premises during PMLA searches: ED tells Madras HC
The Enforcement Directorate has submitted before the Madras High Court that it has no power to seal the premises, if the same was locked at the time of making search under the provisions of PMLA. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju made the submission when the petitions filed by film producer Akash Bhaskaran and businessman Vikram Ravindran came up for hearing before a division bench comprising Justices M S Ramesh and V Lakshminarayanan on Wednesday. In their petitions, Akash and Vikram challenged the action of ED in conducting the search at their residence and office and sealing the same. When the case came up, the bench questioned the power of ED to seal the premises. Raju submitted that the central prove agency has no power to seal the premises. However, it has powers under section 17 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to break open the lock. But, the ED did not want to escalate the situation, he added. He also informed the bench that the ED was instructed to withdraw the notice pasted on the premises of the petitioners and to return all the seized material. Following this, the bench reserved orders on the interim applications and posted after four weeks, the hearing on the main petitions.
Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Indian Express
‘ED officials expanding their powers day by day': Madras HC says agency had no power to seal film producer Akash Bhaskaran's premises
In a setback to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Madras High Court has questioned the agency's authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to seal premises that were locked at the time of a search, and reserved orders on a batch of petitions filed by Tamil film producer Akash Bhaskaran and businessman Vikram Ravindran. The ED had conducted a search and seizure operation on May 16 at multiple premises linked to Bhaskaran and Ravindran, in connection with the alleged Rs 1,000-crore TASMAC scam. The petitioners alleged that the agency sealed their office and residence illegally, even though they were not present during the raid. A Division Bench comprising Justices M S Ramesh and V Lakshminarayanan expressed concern over the ED's evolving interpretation of its powers, observing, 'Courts often remark that the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) is an evolving legislation. But we find that it is actually the Directorate of Enforcement officials who are evolving day by day by expanding their powers.' During the hearing on Tuesday, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the ED, acknowledged that the agency did not have the legal power to seal a locked premise under Section 17 of the PMLA. 'The ED does not have power to seal. The lordship is right in that aspect,' Raju said. He explained that while the law allows ED officers to break open locks during a search, they chose not to in this case to avoid escalating the situation. Instead, the agency pasted notices outside the premises, stating that they 'shall not be opened' and instructing the occupants to contact the agency – an action the court said could wrongly imply that ED had the authority to prohibit entry. 'By saying ED would 'permit' them to enter, it presumes ED has power to prohibit,' the Bench said. The court had earlier asked the ED to produce material that justified the raids. When the agency submitted its evidence in a sealed cover, the Bench pointed out that the documents did not align with the submissions made by the ED. 'There's a divorce between the note and the submission,' Justice Ramesh observed. The ED later agreed to withdraw the notices and return the seized materials, including phones, laptops, and hard drives taken from Bhaskaran's Alwarpet residence. Orders on interim applications have been reserved, while the main petitions have been adjourned by four weeks. Bhaskaran, a relatively new name in the Tamil film industry, is the producer behind Dawn Pictures and is currently helming three of Tamil cinema's most anticipated films – Idli Kadai starring Dhanush, Parashakti featuring Sivakarthikeyan, and Silambarasan TR's STR 49. Collectively, these projects are estimated to be worth between Rs 400 and Rs 550 crore. His name came up on the ED's radar not just for the simultaneous high-value productions but also for the alleged proximity to DMK and Udhayanidhi Stalin. Of particular interest is Parashakti. Directed by Sudha Kongara and produced with a reported Rs 200 crore budget, the film is said to be a powerful political period drama centred on the anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu, with Sivakarthikeyan and Ravi Mohan in pivotal roles. The film was expected to release before the 2026 assembly polls. Its timing, amid national discussions on federalism, linguistic identity, and central overreach, has only sharpened speculation that Bhaskaran's cinematic ventures may also be seen as political expressions. The ED's operations came just months before Parashakti is expected to enter its final production phase. In their petitions, Bhaskaran and Ravindran claimed that neither had been named as an accused in any ongoing money laundering case. Senior counsel for Bhaskaran argued that the producer had no links to the TASMAC scam and that the seizure of his personal digital equipment was illegal. Ravindran, a director at Dawn Pictures, filed two petitions challenging the ED's sealing of his office at Semmenchery and a rented apartment at Poes Garden, arguing that the agency lacked legal backing for such action. The court, while granting the ED time to clarify its position, questioned whether notices barring entry into premises amounted to sealing. 'No sane person would ignore such a notice and walk in. That fear itself shows it is a de facto sealing,' said Justice Lakshminarayanan. The ED's counsel insisted that the search was based on 'credible information' and reiterated that Bhaskaran and Ravindran were not accused, but had failed to cooperate despite repeated attempts by the agency to contact them.
