SC limits ED: Asserts It Can't Function Independently In Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam Case

The Supreme Court has stepped in to curtail the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Uttar Pradesh government from pursuing a fresh case against individuals accused in an alleged liquor syndicate racket in Chhattisgarh. The court's perspective, as highlighted by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, is that the ED must not function as an independent legal entity, emphasizing that both the agency and the UP police cannot take coercive actions against those named in the initial First Information Report (FIR).

"ED cannot be a law unto itself," the bench, which also comprised Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, conveyed to Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who represented the agency.

The court's decision restricts any coercive measures or arrests against the petitioners, Anil Tuteja and Yash Tuteja, who were involved in the case.

The ED's involvement arose after information about fake hologram production near Noida, UP, was brought to light, leading to the registration of the FIR on July 30. The court's ruling asserts that the agency's actions should remain within legal boundaries and not exceed established procedures.

This verdict underscores the Supreme Court's role in safeguarding due process and ensuring that agencies like the ED operate within the bounds of the law. The decision echoes the importance of upholding legal norms and preventing any entity, regardless of its authority, from functioning beyond established legal constraints.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University