ED has become an extended arm of the BJP: Balamurugan

The reason for his suspension was not mentioned

Balamurugan who was set to retire on January 31st

Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer B Balamurugan who was set to retire on January 31st was suspended on January 29th by the Union Government. Balamurugan had written a letter to the President of India Droupadi Murmu recommending Nirmala Sitharaman to be removed from her position as a Finance Minister. 

The controversy erupted when 2 farmers aged 72 and 67 received summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in July 2023 over alleged money laundering and violation of laws pertaining to foreign exchange.  What had caused public outrage was the fact that they collectively owned only 6.5 acres of land and were dependent on a monthly pension of Rs 1000 for their subsistence.

 It was speculated that the summon was issued on account of a land grabbing effort by the District Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for Salem East named Gunasekar. “The above incident shows how the Enforcement Directorate has become an extended arm of the BJP. In fact, the finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman, after taking over the charge, has successfully converted the Enforcement Directorate into BJP Policy Enforcement Directorate,” Balamurugan mentioned in his letter. 

The reason for his suspension was reportedly not mentioned in the order.