Today(on 18th July), the Supreme Court deferred the hearing on the ED’s plea to transfer a bribery investigation involving one of its officers from Tamil Nadu’s DVAC to the CBI. The postponement occurred as the ED’s counsel noted the unavailability of Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who represents the ED and was out of town.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Today(18th July), deferred the hearing on the Directorate of Enforcement’s (ED) petition seeking the transfer of an investigation into bribery allegations against one of its officers from Tamil Nadu’s Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan postponed the session following a statement from the ED counsel. The counsel informed the court that Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, was not available as he was out of town.
“The court was considering an ED petition to transfer the investigation of bribery allegations against one of its officers from Tamil Nadu’s state authorities to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).”
-the counsel explained.
Previously, the Supreme Court had granted interim bail to ED official Ankit Tiwari, who was apprehended by the Tamil Nadu DVAC in December 2023 over alleged bribery. The court stipulated several conditions for Tiwari’s bail, including prohibitions on influencing witnesses, tampering with evidence, and leaving the state of Tamil Nadu without permission.
“Ankit Tiwari has contested the Madras High Court’s decision to reject his bail application in the money laundering case.”
-the ED counsel added.
ALSO READ: ED Officer Ankit Tiwari | Madras HC Dismisses Statutory Bail Plea of Ankit
In response, the Supreme Court has instructed the Tamil Nadu government to submit a reply regarding Tiwari’s plea.
The bribery scandal surfaced in December when the Tamil Nadu DVAC arrested an ED officer, claiming he was caught “red-handed” while accepting a bribe of Rs 20 lakh from a doctor in Dindigul district.
The state officials alleged that-
“Ankit Tiwari and his team of ED officers allegedly threatened several individuals and accepted bribes under the guise of resolving their cases with the Enforcement Directorate.”