‘I-T disclosure not casting aspersions’

The bench added, “Serious allegations inter alia against higher police officials regarding their complicity and connivance in the illegal business in gutkha and other forms of chewable tobacco is likely to give rise to doubts in the minds of the public about the fairness, impartiality and or the efficacy of the investigation. It is therefore desirable the investigation be made over to an independent agency like the CBI.”   

Earlier, during arguments while Advocate General Vijay Narayan had submitted that since the case is predominantly against government officials it should be probed by DVAC with cooperation from CBI. He had also stressed that the DVAC probe was at its final stages.

P Wilson, senior counsel appearing for J Anbazhagan, part of DMK who moved the public interest litigation seeking CBI probe had argued that even the FIR was registered only after the issue was highlighted by the Opposition in the state assembly. Under such circumstances how can a DVAC probe be expected to hold a fair probe, he had argued.