SC quashes ED plea in Aakash Baskaran contempt case

The ED raided TASMAC headquarters and several liquor factories in Tamil Nadu in April in connection with an alleged Rs. 1,000 crore fraud in the state-owned enterprise. While these raids were taking place, the news that generated the most buzz was the raid on several properties owned by the Movie Producer Aakash Baskaran and his friend and businessman Vikram, in connection with this case, alleging that they engaged in money laundering. ED also sealed some of their properties and confiscated laptops and other documents.
Then Aakash Baskaran and his business partner moved to the Madras High Court, demanding that the sealed assets and materials confiscated be returned and that the ED’s actions were illegal, and that any further action by them should be stayed. The court, after going through the materials submitted by the ED in support of their case that the reprieve should not be given, decided to grant the petitioner’s plea.
Even after the court’s order, the ED didn’t stop the proceedings against Aakash Baskaran and his friend and businessman Vikram and so they moved a contempt petition against ED in the Madras High Court. The court found merit in the plea and took it for further consideration.
ED moved the Supreme Court that the contempt plea be dismissed but SC has refused to do so and disposed of the ED’s petition. Now, the contempt of court case will move forward in the Madras High Court.