Days after controversy erupted over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issuing summons to two Tamil Nadu Dalit farmers, the central agency has decided to close the case against the duo. According to reports, the case was closed as the probe began based on a predicate offence. The six-months-old summons surfaced on social media last week, triggering widespread reaction.
In July 2023, Kannaiyan and his brother Krishnan, both in their 70s, from Attur of Salem district received summons from the ED, referring to their caste name - Hindu Pallars - on the summon envelope. It has been alleged that the ED is targeting the farmers – who subsist on a Rs 1,000 monthly pension – since they are engaged in a land dispute case against a local BJP leader whom they have accused of illegally trying to grab their land.
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A Hindustan Times report quotes an ED official source saying that the issue was blown out of proportion after six months of the summons. A Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case was registered in March 2022 against the brothers based on a letter forwarded by Tamil Nadu forest department pertaining to the killing of two wild buffaloes, the source had said. They also added that while a summon was issued as per procedure to the farmers in July 2023, no questioning happened and no further summons were issued. The case has now been closed after it was learnt that the forest department’s case against the farmers has been closed in a Salem court.