New Delhi, Feb. 26 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday submitted before the Supreme Court that the Tamil Nadu state is stepping into the shoes of the accused and trying to prevent the investigation into the sand mining case.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for ED, submitted, before the bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal, that the probe agency is entitled to investigate. He further added that the state is stepping into the shoes of the accused, preventing an investigation and trying to shield them.

During the hearing, the court also remarked that government officials should help ED find out if there are any offences.

Representing the Tamil Nadu government, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal justified t...