MHC asks ED to respond to plea seeking PMLA case against BJP's Nainar Nagendran, Congress's Robert Bruce

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court directed the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to get instructions to the petition seeking to register PMLA case against Tirunelveli Parliament constituency candidate of BJP Nainar Nagendran and Congress candidate Robert Bruce.

CM Raghavan, an independent candidate from Tirunelveli constituency, moved the HC seeking to direct the ED to take action based on his representation.

The case was listed before a division bench of Justice MS Ramesh and Justice Sunder Mohan.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the ED should register a case against Nainar Nagendran and Robert Bruce, since huge amount of money was seized from places connected to them during the election model code of conduct was in effect.

The seized amount was meant for distribution among the voters, the counsel contended and sought to register the case prevention of money laundering act (PMLA) against the candidates.

The standing counsel for ED Ramesh submitted that cases were registered regarding the seizure of the money under section 171C, 171E, 171F and 188 of IPC. Since the sections are not under the scheduled offences, the ED cannot register the case under PMLA.

After the submission the bench directed the counsel to get instructions in this regard and posted the matter to April 24, for further submission.

On April 15, Rs. 3.99 crore was seized from three persons at Tambaram railway station by the election flying squad, who were alleged to be the associates of BJP candidate Nainar Nagendran. Likewise, Rs.28.50 lakhs was also seized from Tirunelveli East DMK district secretary's office, which the petitioner claiming that the money is to distribute on behalf of Congress candidate Robert Bruce.