Minister, DGP behind gutkha plea in SC, says Stalin

Referring to the appeal petition moved in the Supreme Court by health inspector Shivakumar, who has also been named in the “Gutkha Diary,” DMK working president MK Stalin on Saturday said the Minister and the DGP were behind the appeal. They have used the health inspector as a proxy to move the appeal to prevent the HC ordered CBI probe and delay the investigations as they are aware that their fate would be sealed in the case, said Stalin, in a statement issued here on Saturday.

Wondering how an ordinary health inspector mobilised money to engage former attorney general of India Mukul Rohtagi in the case, the DMK working president said the engagement of a senior counsel of Rahtogi’s stature has raised suspicion and surprise in the minds of the people.

Recalling the statement of state Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar that the state would not appeal against the HC order, Stalin, who is also the Leader of Opposition, questioned as to how a person in the rank of a health inspector would derive courage to challenge a decision of the state in the Supreme Court without having resourceful and powerful backing.

Alleging that Vijaya Baskar and Rajendran would impede the probe if they remain in their respective offices, Stalin reiterated that it was imperative for Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to sack them if they fail to demit office on their own.

Urging the CM to publicise the stated position of the government that they do not object to the order of the HC and they would not challenge the same in the case, the LoP also asked the vigilance and anti-corruption unit to investigate as to where the health inspector managed to pool money for engaging the senior counsel.