Reportedly Dalit farmers have filed complaints against the enforcement officials and bjp officials. Two farmers, 70 year old Kannaiyan and his brother Krishnan, residents of Attur in salem district, received a summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in July last year. The summons from the enforcement agency probing cases related to money laundering and violation of foreign exchange laws has come as a shock to the embattled farmer who owns 6.5 acres of farmland. While it is still not clear why the brothers Kannaiyan and Krishnan have been summoned for investigation, the envelope in which the summons has been sent without any address has been mentioned as Hindu Pallar under their names, which has caused controversy.
When alleging that a local bjp leader is trying to usurp their land illegally, Kannaiyan and Krishnan have expressed anguish that they are living on a monthly pension of Rs 1000 from the tamil Nadu government. In a summons dated june 26, 2023, issued to farmers by Assistant director of Enforcement Ritesh Kumar, Investigating Officer (IO) Ritesh Kumar is conducting the investigation under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Kannayan and Krishnan have been asked to appear before the agency on July 5, 2023. “In exercise of the powers conferred on me under sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of section 50 of the said Act, the said Kannaiyan S/o Chinnaswamy shall appear before me on the 5th day of July, 2023.” As it says.
Perhaps farmers have been asked to bring documents like their PAN card copy, Aadhaar card, voter ID card, passport copy, two passport size photographs, tax returns and copies of family members, details of investments made. They and their family members have also been asked to present documents such as details of immovable properties in their name and the names of family members, bank accounts, fixed deposit details in their names and names of family members, agricultural land details and crop production details.
Accordingly, the farmers have appeared at the Enforcement Department office in Shastri Bhavan, chennai along with their lawyers. However, only two of them have been asked to appear without lawyers. Due to this, there was an argument and a police complaint was made to no avail. It seems that the officials of the enforcement department spoke poorly of the farmers. Subsequently, both of them filed a complaint at the DGP's office about the humiliation they faced and left. Farmers' lawyer Dalit Parveena said, "No information related to this case has been mentioned in the summons. Both the farmer brothers do not know what the case is. The summons did not mention anything other than asking the enforcement department to appear with proper documents. The only case they face is the case of attempted land grab by a local bjp functionary to grab their land.” He said.
Moreover a civil case related to the land dispute between them is pending in the Athur court. Against this background, the Enforcement Department has issued summons to the farmers. Hence, questions have arisen whether the enforcement department is trying to help the bjp executive by intimidating the farmers in this case. “We took all the records and appeared at the enforcement office. They have asked us to appear again. We are somehow driving the diarrhea ourselves. How can anyone accuse us of illegal possession?” Farmer brothers have asked painfully and they also said that they had bought a card in the town to appear at the Enforcement Department office. lawyer Dalit Parveena said that when the enforcement department sent the summons, there was Rs.450 in the bank account of the farmers.
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