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Rao challenges government, says he is still Chief Secretary
In what seemed to be a well-thought out move that demonstrated possible instructions from a group supporting him, former Chief Secretary Rama Mohana Rao, who had been raided by the Income Tax department for his alleged connections with sand mining baron Sekar Reddy, openly challenged the state government, alleging that there was lawlessness in the state in the absence of ‘Puratchi Thalaivi Amma'.
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He even went to the extent of thanking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for condemning the raids on his premises. Addressing the media at his residence in Anna Nagar, soon after he was discharged from a private hospital, in a tone that was tinged more with anger than remorse, Rao accused even the Central government for violating the federal values of the Constitution and termed the raid on him as a ‘constitutional assault’ on the office of the Chief Secretary. Challenging the state government, Rao maintained that he continued to be the Chief Secretary.
“I was the Chief Secretary. I am the Chief Secretary. This government does not have the guts to serve me a transfer order,” the chest-thumping Rao said. “I was searched at gunpoint by CRPF. They entered my house and the I-T department’s search warrant did not have my name but my son Vivek’s. I was under house arrest,” Rao said.
Filling his discourse with generous praise for former Chief Minister late J Jayalalithaa, Rao maintained that he did nothing wrong and was only following the footsteps of ‘Amma’. “I am trained by honourable madam. She has been training me ever since I was the Collector of Chengalpattu in 1994. If madam was alive, would they have the guts to enter the Chief Secretary’s office?” He even took potshots at present Chief Minister, O Panneerselvam, saying that he did not know whether the I-T department had taken permission from the Chief Minister before entering the Secretariat.
He also claimed that the I-T department had not seized anything substantial from his house except for Rs 1,12,320 and 40 to 50 sovereigns of gold that belonged to his wife and daughter and about 25 kg of silver articles. He alleged that his life was in danger but evaded questions on the people behind such a threat. Rao also denied having any business connections with Sekar Reddy.
TURN OF EVENTS
- DEC 21: Income Tax officials raid Rao’s residence, office, seize Rs 30 lakh cash in new currency and 5 kg of gold
- DEC 22: Rao replaced by Girija Vaidyanathan as Chief Secretary
- DEC 24: Rao admitted in the ICU at Sri Ramachandra Hospital after complaint of chest pain
- DEC 26: Rao discharged from hospital
- DEC 27: Rao conducts a press conference claiming that he is still the Chief Secretary. Political parties demand explanation from Chief Minister
Rao’s salvos
- Rao claims he is still Chief Secretary
- I-T raids was “constitutional assault”
- Denies links with mining baron Sekar Reddy
- Says only Rs 1,12,320 in cash, 40-50 sovereigns gold found
- Was kept under house arrest by CRPF
- Says govt does not have guts to serve transfer order copy
- Thanks West Bengal CM Mamata, Cong VP Rahul Gandhi for condemning raids
- Claims his son is not living with him
- Says he has no security in TN Says he was appointed, sponsored and nurtured by Amma
- Claims warrant did not contain his name
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