SC seeks report as T.N., ED quarrel over whether District Collectors gave agency requisite documents about illegal sand mining

The Bench directed the ED to file a compliance report, detailing the documents sought from the Collectors in the summons and what among these records were allegedly not produced by them.

The Supreme Court on May 6 sought a report from the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) even as the State of Tamil Nadu maintained that District Collectors have appeared before the Central agency and supplied it with records about illegal sand mining sought from them by the anti-money laundering body in its summons.

Appearing before a Bench headed by Justice Bela Trivedi, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Amit Anand Tiwari, for Tamil Nadu, complained that the senior officials were made to remain at the ED office from 11 a.m. to 8.30 pm.

“They are District Collectors. They cannot do this to these senior officials,” Mr. Sibal submitted.

Meanwhile, the ED said “no documents or details” were given by the District Collectors to the Central agency.

“Whatever requisite documents asked from the Collectors have been submitted,” Mr. Sibal countered.

The Bench directed the ED to file a compliance report, detailing the documents sought from the Collectors in the summons and what among these records were allegedly not produced by them.

The court also took exception to the long hours the ED made the officials remain in its office. The ED counsel said it would convey the court’s displeasure to the agency.