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The ED has claimed Rs 4,500 crore of corruption in Tamil Nadu associated to unlawful sand mining (File).
Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Police have arrested an Enforcement Directorate officer in Madurai for allegedly extorting Rs 20 lakh in money from a state authorities worker. As a part of the continued investigation, police are looking the central company’s workplaces within the metropolis and the officer’s residence, and have seized a number of paperwork. That is the primary time Tamil Nadu has arrested an Enforcement Directorate officer.
The officer in query – Ankit Tiwari – has been despatched to judicial custody until December 15.
The Enforcement Directorate has not responded to date.
In accordance with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Mr Tiwari initially demanded Rs 3 crore to “avert authorized motion” in a case that had already been settled. He contacted the worker on October 29, claimed he was appearing on directions from the Prime Minister’s Workplace, and summoned him to the company’s Madurai workplace. When he got here, Mr Tiwari accosted him and demanded the Rs 3 crore bribe, which he later introduced right down to Rs 51 lakh claiming he had “spoken to his superiors”.
The primary installment of Rs 20 lakh was paid on November 1. The federal government worker was subsequently harassed by Mr Tiwari for the remaining Rs 31 lakh. On November 30 he lodged a criticism with the DVAC and, at 10.30 am in the present day Friday, the division arrested Ankit Tiwari.
DVAC sources instructed NDTV Mr Tiwari was caught “red-handed” following a high-speed automotive chase.
The DVAC can also be investigating if Mr Tiwari obtained cash from threatening or blackmailing others.
State Vs ED In Madras Excessive Court docket
Mr Tiwari’s arrest comes because the Tamil Nadu authorities and the central investigative company are at loggerheads over the latter’s summons to 5 district collectors; that is in reference to a probe into alleged cash laundering linked to unlawful sand mining.
In a second of aid for Chief Minister MK Stalin’s administration, the Madras Excessive Court docket this week stayed the summons for 3 weeks. It didn’t, although, keep the probe.
The summoned collectors – from the Ariyalur, Vellore, Thanjavur, Karur and Tiruchirapalli districts – and the state authorities have been given three weeks to answer the ED.
READ | “Fully Unlawful”: Probe Company Summons To five Tamil Nadu Officers Paused
The state, although, had argued the ED doesn’t have the authority to make such calls for and that its summons to the 5 collectors is towards the spirit of federalism.
It was additionally argued the central company ought to hunt such particulars, if wanted, solely through the state authorities, and that it couldn’t conduct an inquiry with out the latter’s consent.
Citing a survey by an professional from the Indian Institute of Expertise, the ED claimed unlawful sand mining value Rs 4,500 crore had taken place throughout Tamil Nadu in two years.
DMK Mouthpiece Slams Enforcement Directorate
The ED official’s arrest comes on the day the ruling DMK’s mouthpiece, Murasoli, accused the BJP that’s in energy on the centre of utilizing the company to malign its picture. The newspaper questioned the ED’s declare of corruption, difficult the premise of the alleged “arbitrary” determine and demanding proof.
“The BJP makes use of Enforcement Directorate to create a black mark towards DMK. ED mentioned some random numbers… that, in two years, Rs 4,730 crore of corruption was uncovered in sand mining. How do they understand how a lot sand was within the river two years in the past? They’re simply making up these numbers… “
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