ED accuses DVAC sleuths of ‘stealing sensitive documents’ during ‘illegal’ searches in Madurai office
On Friday, an Enforcement Directorate officer, identified as Ankit Tiwari, was caught red-handed by DVAC officials while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20 lakh from a doctor in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.
ChennaiThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday accused the Tamil Nadu Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Directorate (DVAC) of “burgling” the agency’s Madurai office and “stealing sensitive documents” during “illegal searches” of the premises .
Days after the vigilant sleuths arrested an ED officer after he was caught ‘red-handed’ while taking bribe of Rs 20 lakh from a doctor in Dindigul, the probe agency in a written letter to the state police chief sought registration of an FIR against DVAC officials who conducted searches at the ED’s regional office and allegedly “stealed” sensitive case-related documents.
In the letter, addressed to Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal, Brijesh Beniwal, working as assistant director at ED’s Madurai sub-zonal office, alleged that the anti-corruption officials had raided the central agency’s office, illegal searches and sensitive files.
‘Sensitive documents stolen’
Seeking an FIR against the DVAC officials, Beniwal alleged that the searches were not only illegal but also rogue in nature. The ED official has also accused the DVAC sleuths of “stealing several sensitive files” and illegally accessing various files and making copies on mobile or other electronic media that could jeopardize the investigation.
According to Beniwal’s letter, as many as 35 people dressed in plain clothes and claiming to be from the police station stormed into the ED office on Friday, along with local media and a crowd of citizens.
“When we asked for their ID cards and the purpose of their visit, they were simply reluctant to provide ID cards and barged in. Only one Mr M Sathyaseelan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, V&AC, Madurai Department has given his induction. Not a single search warrant was produced. The so-called police officers were not wearing uniform and had no badge,” the letter from the ED official said.
“Thereafter, these 35 persons continuously remained in the office of Enforcement Directorate, Madurai, from 2:30 PM on December 1, 2023 to 7:15 AM on December 2, 2023. Time and again we have questioned the presence of so many persons, and repeatedly asked about a copy of the FIR, search authorization, identity and consent of so many persons present, but our request simply fell on deaf ears,” the letter said.
These persons, the ED official alleged, had even opened files unrelated to the alleged case for which the search was ordered; Ankit Tiwari’s room was locked intermittently during the search; they ransacked the ED office and gave out information.
ED officer caught taking bribe of Rs 20 lakh
On Friday, an ED officer, identified as Ankit Tiwari, was caught red-handed by DVAC officials while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20 lakh from a doctor in an unspecified case.
“ED officer Ankit Tiwari was ‘caught red-handed’ by DVAC sleuths after receiving Rs 20 lakh bribe money from the doctor,” police sources said on Friday, adding that Tiwari was arrested after he was driven a few kilometers on the Dindigul-Madurai highway was chased. .
After he was taken into custody in Dindigul, a team of DVAC officials conducted ‘investigations’ at the sub-zone ED office in Madurai, while state police officers stood guard outside the central government office.
Citing sources in the DVAC, a special anti-corruption unit of the Tamil Nadu Police, a PTI report stated that searches were being conducted at a premises linked to the accused officer.
“Our sleuths are conducting searches at Ankit Tiwari’s residence and his Enforcement Directorate office in Madurai. Further searches will be conducted at the places linked to Ankit Tiwari,” the anti-corruption bureau said in a statement.
(With input from agencies)