Begin probe into gutkha scam, Anbazhagan writes to CBI

DMK MLA from Triplicane/Chepauk J Anbazhagan on Thursday wrote to the CBI director in New Delhi, asking him to register complaint against the aforesaid trio, ‘MDM Gutkha’ owner Madhav Rao and other officials named by the Income Tax Department and initiate the probe in the scam as directed by the court. On May 18, 2018, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court dismissed a special leave petition and upheld the order of the Madras High Court, which transferred the case investigation to the CBI.

Detailing the evolution of the case, Anbazhagan, who successfully moved the petition seeking a CBI probe in the High Court, in his ten-page letter to the CBI, said an affidavit filed by the I-T department informed the HC that a letter written to the DGP on August 11, 2016, was found at the residence of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa during a raid on November 17, 2017, along with a September 2, 2016, note of then DGP in the room occupied by VK Sasikala.

“This discloses the nexus between the gutkha manufacturers with Minister Vijaya Baskar and state higher officials,” the DMK MLA added. Referring to the counter filed by Director General of vigilance, customs and centre excise, New Delhi, before the HC, Anbazhagan said the angle of payment of hawala money as stated by the Vigilance DG must be probed.