Controversy: ED closes case against Tamil Nadu Dalit farmers

Chennai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) decided to close a case against two Dalit farmers after a controversy arose following the agency issuing summons to the farmers, The News Minute reported.

As per TNM, the agency issued the summons to the two farmers in connection with a probe into a predicate offence. The summons, issued six months ago, came to public attention after it went viral on social media last week.

ED issued a summons to Kannaiyan and his brother Krishnan, two septuagenarians, in July 2023. The natives of Salem's Attur district received the summons with their caste name on the summons' envelope.

After this, the ED was accused of targeting the farmers since the duo engaged in a land dispute case against a local BJP leader. The duo, who live on a monthly pension of Rs 1000 each, were fighting the BJP leader who is allegedly to grab their land.

But the ED says that a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case was registered against the farmers in March 2022 based on a letter forwarded by Tamil Nadu forest department. They were accused of killing two wild buffaloes. Though a summons was issued, which was part of the procedure, no questioning has happened so far, the agency said.

ED explained that ED closed the case because the case charged by the forest department has been closed in a Salem court, TNM reports.