Former DGP summoned by ED in gutkha case

Nearly four months after the Enforcement Directorate attached 174 properties worth Rs 246 crore belonging to gutkha scam suspects, the agency has summoned former Tamil Nadu DGP TK Rajendran to appear before the investigators on December 2. Sources also said that Chennai City Additional Commissioner R Dhinakaran was also summoned by the ED to appear before the probe team on December 3.

The attachments were made after the ED team headed by Joint Director P Manikkavel had initiated investigations under the PMLA against unidentified officials of the State and the Central governments, public servants and others based on an FIR filed by the CBI in the gutkha scam. Sources said that the team headed by Manickavel has been assigned to summon and grill both the IPS officers.

The CBI had registered the FIR on the directions of the Madras High Court after it directed the probe agency to conduct investigations into all aspects of the offence of illegal manufacture, import, supply, distribution and sale of gutkha and other tobacco products in the State from May 2013 to 2016. Both Rajendran and Dhinakaran had served in Chennai city police in different capacities during the period.

The investigation revealed that accused AV Madahva Rao, PV Srinivasa Rao, Tallam Umashankar Gupta and others associated with illegal manufacture, sale and distribution of gutkha products had a turn-over of Rs 639.40 crore from June 2013 to June 2016 and the ill-gotten money derived out of the criminal activities were invested in movable and immovable properties.

Six people, including three government staff were arrested by the CBI September last year after raids were conducted in the houses of then DGP Rajendran, former commissioner of police, S George and Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar. The officials were accused of turning a blind eye to allow free sale of banned products in the State after receiving huge amounts as bribes. CBI had also filed a charge sheet two months after the arrests were made.