SC to lay down guidelines to ensure transparency in ED probes

While offenders should not go scot-free, vindictive arrests and mala-fide witch-hunting should also not take place, the apex court said, adding that it is proposing to evolve a mechanism that can apply pan-India.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan issued notice to Tamil Nadu on a writ petition filed by the ED seeking to transfer the investigation of the bribery case against ED officer Ankit Tiwari from the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The top court issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government seeking its response and directed it not to proceed with the investigation against Tiwari in the meantime.

The state agency should also share with the court all materials collected so far in the case, the Supreme Court bench directed and posted the matter to be heard after two weeks.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, said that though the agency was not supporting the officer implicated in the bribery case but wanted a fair and proper investigation should be conducted.

The Solicitor General said that the state agency under the guise of investigating the case against Tiwari, raided the ED office and seized several unconnected files, which are relevant in cases against many ministers, who are under the ED's scanner.

Tamil Nadu Police is stalling the ED investigation in money laundering cases against many State officials, he alleged.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the State, denied the allegations.

The Bench said, “We will evolve a mechanism to address a larger issue of best practices, considering the federal nature of the country.”

(With UNI inputs)