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New Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
DMK, TNCC and CPI laud SC's decision to stay ED's probe into Tasmac
CHENNAI: DMK organising secretary R S Bharathi accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of acting like a blackmailing organisation and welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to stay the central agency's probe into the alleged Tasmac scam. Bharathi was reacting to the SC's order on Thursday at the party headquarters. Chief Minister M K Stalin was also present there, for the launch of a book titled 'Ulagengum Kalaignar'. After the book launch, Stalin held brief discussions with party functionaries regarding the preparations for the party's general council meeting set to take place in Madurai on June 1. Later, Bharathi told reporters, 'Forgetting that many cases related to Tasmac have been pending for a long time, BJP leaders have made it a habit to speak out and use the ED just to have news published, targeting the DMK. The SC's stay on the ED probe is a crushing blow to them.' He also alleged that the ED has become a 'blackmailing agency' referring to the corruption charges filed against ED officials in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. DMK spokesperson and advocate Saravanan Annadurai said the ED had aggregated over 40 FIRs filed by the DVAC since 2014 solely to establish jurisdiction, as the agency can intervene only in cases involving irregularities exceeding `40 lakh. 'Now the SC has tamed the ED,' he added. Speaking to reporters at the TNCC headquarters in Sathyamoorthi Bhavan on Thursday, TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai welcomed the SC's recent observations in the ED versus Tasmac case, calling them 'historic.' Quoting the apex court, he said, 'The ED is violating the Constitution and crossing all limits.' He pointed out that, of the 193 cases registered by the ED in the past 11 years, only two have ended in convictions. 'Who will answer for the suffering of the other 191 families,' he asked. In a press statement, CPI state secretary R Mutharasan also highlighted the apex court's observation against the ED, adding that the CPI welcomes the SC's observation that the ED has degraded into a political tool.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Union govt should stop misusing ED, says DMK
(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel 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 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."
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
ED a 'blackmailing organisation'; SC order 'blow' to BJP's bid to malign TN govt: DMK on TASMAC case
CHENNAI: The Supreme Court staying the ED probe against state-run TASMAC in Tamil Nadu is a "big blow" to the BJP's efforts to malign the party-led government in the state and the central probe agency was a "blackmailing organisation," senior DMK leader RS Bharathi said on Thursday. Responding to the apex court staying the money laundering probe against liquor retailer Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) over alleged corruption in grant of wine shop licences, he said the party welcomes the order. Speaking to reporters soon after the court order, the DMK organisation secretary alleged that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, the ED has been used against non-BJP ruled states. "In Tamil Nadu, the M K Stalin-led DMK government that assumed office in 2021 has been gaining popularity ever since 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 DMK and the BJP leaders used to make all kinds of charges," he said. "The SC staying the ED probe against TASMAC is a big blow to such things and is in deference to the sentiments of the people of Tamil welcome the (SC) order," he said. "The union government should stop misusing ED at least after this," the former MP added. Bharathi further alleged that ED has become a "blackmailing organisation," and referred to instances of the agency's officials arrested by the state police of Tamil Nadu and Kerala over bribery allegations in the respective states to buttress his claim.
New Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
EPS echoes BJP's WhatsApp university info: DMK's RS Bharathi
CHENNAI: DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi criticised AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, accusing him of making baseless allegations against the state government to shield the union government, which has failed to release Rs 617 crore meant for private schools in Tamil Nadu under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. In a statement, Bharathi alleged that the union government is displeased with Tamil Nadu's educational achievements such as high gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education and the rising pass percentage among SC/ST students in school public exams. He claimed this irritation is reflected in the refusal to release Rs 2,152 crore under Samagra Shiksha scheme, because the state has not yielded to the centre's pressure to implement the three-language formula. Bharathi also added that the union government, in an apparent attempt to undermine the state and jeopardise the educational aspirations of Tamil Nadu's students, has been deliberately delaying the release of Rs 617 crore owed to private schools under RTE, despite the state's chief secretary writing a letter in this regard. Bharathi accused Planiswami of lacking the courage to question the union government, and choosing to direct his criticism at the state government. 'The statement made by Palaniswami is based on misinformation circulated through WhatsApp promoted by the BJP,' Bharathi alleged.
