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Stalin asks DVAC to move contempt plea in gutkha case
DMK working president MK Stalin has asked the state vigilance commissioner to immediately take steps to move court contempt petition against people preventing the vigilance department from booking FIRs against state Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar and DGP TK Rajendran.
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Chennai
Recalling the order of the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in the gutkha case, in which the court had cautioned the Minister and the DGP not to interfere in the case investigation, Stalin said that it was imperative for vigilance commissioner Jayakodi to initiate contempt proceedings against the Minister and DGP as the HC has entrusted on him the responsibility of monitoring the investigation in the case.
Referring to reports revealing that the names of Vijaya Baskar and senior cops, including DGP Rajendran, who were named in the Income Tax department’s letter to the state chief secretary in the multi crore gutkha scam, were not included in the FIR of vigilance department, the DMK working president said that it was sad to see the extent to which the vigilance department had worked to save the Minister and the senior officers in a corruption charge ordered to be investigated by the court.
Alleging that DGP Ashok Kumar was relieved at midnight and another JC Arunachalam transferred to transport vigilance for attempting to investigate the I-T letter on the issue, Stalin said that it was unfortunate that the vigilance department has been made so spineless that it could not even book FIR against the Minister and DGPs.
Stating that the vigilance commissioner does not appear to be monitoring the probe in accordance with the court order, Stalin said that it was strange to find a chief secretary remaining a mute spectator to the stifling of DVAC.
PMK demands CBI probe
The Pattali Makkal Katchi has urged the Centre to order a CBI inquiry into the gutkha scam, as the state government is trying to protect state Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar. PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss in a statement said, “The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has registered a case on September 27 regarding gutkha scam, which was much talked about. However, the DVAC registered a case against 17 officers from Income Tax and Greater Chennai Corporation and commercial department.” During the raid, it was learnt that Health Minister Vijaya Baskar received Rs 14 lakh per month and officials from Customs and Excise received Rs 2 lakh, he said. Even other officials, including top police officials, had also received bribes, Anbumani said. The sitting MP questioned, why the officials concerned have failed to book a case against the Minister. “So, the Centre must order a CBI probe into it,” he said.
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