HC annuls crime branch case against ED, major setback for Pinarayi Govt

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court annulled the crime branch case against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the gold smuggling case. The single bench of the high court quashed the case on the ground that another agency has no jurisdiction in the investigation conducted by one agency. There is no doubt that the court's decision is a major setback for the state government. The court ruled that the Directorate of Enforcement could continue the investigation legally and that the government has no right to intervene.

The court quashed two FIRs registered by the crime branch against the ED. The crime branch should hand over the investigation details to the trial court. The trial court can decide the next steps after examining the documents, the court said.

The high court verdict is on the pleas filed by the ED to quash the cases registered on the allegations forcing to mention the name of the chief minister in the gold smuggling case. Petitioner ED Deputy Director P Radhakrishnan alleged that the case was registered on the pretext that ED's probe into the gold smuggling case would turn to higher personalities. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued on behalf of the petitioner that it was not right for one agency to investigate another agency to know the truth.

Meantime, the state government argued that the ED is conducting an investigation into the gold smuggling case with political motives in mind. However, the court cancelled the cases without going into the merits of the case. The high court has directed that let the findings of the crime branch be examined by the special court.

The crime branch registered the case against ED on the basis of the release of Swapna's audio and Sandeep Nair's allegation that he was forced to say the name of the chief minister.