Written submissions given in gutkha scam

The first bench headed by Chief Justice Indira Banerjee on taking the written submissions on record adjourned the case for orders without mentioning a date. 

The DMK in its written submission had put forth several prima facie evidences, which they claimed augmented the need to transfer the investigation of the case on the file of DVAC to the CBI and file a charge sheet within a time frame as fixed by the court. 

Wondering as to why a secret letter addressed by the Income Tax department to the Director General of Police (DGP) was left in the house of the former chief minister J Jayalalithaa even after her demise on December 5, 2016, the submission stated that the DGP left the letter in the custody of VK Sasikala points to the fact that the allegations of bribery of top officials, bureaucrats and ministers were sought to be swept under the carpet, to protect the corrupt. 

The letter addressed by then Commissioner of Police George to the Home Secretary seeking to refer the matter to an appropriate ‘independent agency’ for inquiry, since the same will unearth involvement of officers at all levels, is another prima facie material to show the involvement of top police officials in the scam. It may be recalled that the issue also rocked the Assembly session last year.