National

Madras HC Criticizes ED’s Search Procedures at TASMAC and Halts Additional Actions

Published

1 year ago

March 21, 2025

In a temporary reprieve for the DMK government led by MK Stalin, particularly for V Senthil Balaji, the Minister for Electricity and Prohibition and Excise, the Madras High Court on Thursday criticized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its handling of the raid at the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) headquarters in the city. The court claimed that the ED’s actions, resulting in the discovery of an alleged multi-crore scam, were inappropriate and ordered the agency to refrain from any coercive measures until the next hearing.

The Division Bench of Justices MS Ramesh and N Senthilkumar raised concerns over the ED’s actions, which reportedly included confining TASMAC employees within the office and failing to communicate the reason for the raid. The judges directed the ED not to proceed further with the searches conducted on March 6 and requested copies of the FIR related to the predicate offense, the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), and any relevant materials used against TASMAC. This discussion came as the court considered petitions submitted by the state government and TASMAC, which is the sole retailer of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in Tamil Nadu, contesting the ED’s authority in this matter.

The judges questioned the rationale behind holding the entire office under ED’s control for extended periods without providing a clear explanation. “We understand if there is specific information. However, how can you keep the whole office under control for hours without explanation? That is their complaint; they are unaware of why the ED conducted the search,” the judges stated.

TASMAC holds a monopoly on liquor retail in the state, and the ED has also conducted raids on various distilleries and bottling companies, claiming to have uncovered financial irregularities totaling over Rs 1,000 crore. This situation has sparked a political uproar, with the main opposition parties, AIADMK and BJP, calling for accountability and action against those involved.

Both the state government and TASMAC contended that the ED agents intruded upon the TASMAC headquarters, violating the rights and privacy of employees by confiscating their mobile phones and detaining them, including female staff, for prolonged periods. Advocate General PS Raman, along with senior counsel Vikram Chaudhary representing TASMAC, indicated that they would present CCTV footage as evidence of the harassment endured by employees, who were held for up to 60 hours without clear justification and had their data extracted from phones.

“This is a clear case of government officials, including women, being detained for 60 hours straight with only a six-hour break, a process that continued over three days,” Raman argued, asserting that this did not constitute a legitimate investigation. He further noted that TASMAC officials had not been informed of the predicate offenses underlying the ED’s actions, nor had they received the ECIR or the search authorization issued by the ED Joint Director.

In response, Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan refuted the allegations against the ED, claiming that no employees were confined in the office and everyone was free to leave and return at will. He asserted that no statements were taken at midnight.

Given the concerns raised regarding the ED’s conduct, the Bench opted to allow the agency to file a detailed response and scheduled the next hearing for the following Tuesday.

National

Ex-IAS Officer Dhanendra Kumar Dies in Delhi House Fire

Published

1 week ago

May 29, 2026

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: Former IAS officer and the first chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Dhanendra Kumar, died after a fire broke out at his house in Delhi’s Hauz Khas area on Thursday night. He was 80.

According to police, the fire was suspected to have started after an air conditioner blast inside the house. At the time of the incident, five people, including family members and domestic staff, were present in the house.

Firefighters and police teams rushed to the spot and rescued the people trapped inside. Dhanendra Kumar and his son were taken to a nearby hospital. Kumar died during treatment due to smoke inhalation. His son suffered injuries and is now out of danger.

Police said no foul play is suspected in the incident. The house was badly damaged in the fire.

Dhanendra Kumar was a 1968 batch IAS officer. During his long career, he served in several important positions in the central and Haryana governments. He worked in ministries such as Defence, Road Transport, and Culture.

He also served as the first chairman of the Competition Commission of India from 2009 to 2011. He played an important role in strengthening competition laws and economic reforms in the country.

Even after retirement, he remained active in public policy and corporate affairs.

National

Woman Found Dead Six Months after Marriage

Published

2 weeks ago

May 27, 2026

Namma Kudla

Lucknow: A young woman was found hanging at her in-laws’ house just six months after her marriage in Lucknow. The deceased has been identified as Shweta Singh.

According to her family, Shweta married Bhupendra Singh on November 22, 2025. Her father, Umesh Kumar Singh, alleged that her husband and his family harassed her regularly for dowry and demanded a car. He also claimed that Shweta faced mental torture from her husband and in-laws after marriage.

The incident took place at her in-laws’ house in the Thakurganj area of Lucknow. Shweta was rushed to a hospital, but doctors declared her dead.

Her parents suspect murder and alleged that the family tried to present the death as suicide by hanging the body. Based on the complaint, police registered a case against Shweta’s husband and his family under Sections 80 and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Police said the accused family members are absconding, and a search operation is underway. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and further action will be taken after the report arrives.

National

Army Helicopter Crashes In Ladakh, All Three Officers Injured But Safe

Published

2 weeks ago

May 23, 2026

Namma Kudla

National: Three Indian Army officers survived after their helicopter crashed in the Tangste region near Leh in Ladakh. The accident took place on May 20. Officials confirmed the incident on Friday.

The helicopter belonged to the Army’s ageing Cheetah fleet. A Lieutenant Colonel and a Major were flying the chopper. Major General Sachin Mehta, General Officer Commanding of the 3rd Infantry Division, was travelling as a passenger.

All three officers suffered injuries in the crash. However, they survived the accident in the difficult mountainous region. A selfie clicked by Major General Mehta after the crash has now gone viral on social media. The photo showed the three officers sitting on rocks near the badly damaged helicopter.

Many people called their survival a miracle because of the harsh terrain and the risks involved in flying the old Cheetah helicopters in high-altitude areas.

The Indian Army has ordered an official inquiry to find out the reason behind the crash.

The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of the Cheetah helicopters. These helicopters were introduced in the 1970s and have been used for decades in difficult operations, including Operation Meghdoot in Siachen Glacier in 1984.

In recent years, several accidents involving the Cheetah fleet have been reported. The helicopters are now being slowly replaced by the indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The Army has reportedly ordered six limited-series-production LUHs. The new helicopters can fly at a top speed of 220 kmph and have an operational range of 350 km.

Despite its age, the Cheetah helicopter is still considered one of the best helicopters for high-altitude flying operations.