Madras HC orders probe into O Panneerselvam's asset case post DVAC's inaction

As per the latest update in Deputy CM O Panneerselvam's disproportionate asset probe, the Madras High Court has said that it has ordered an initial probe into the matter.

The Madras High Court on July 17 had slammed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for failing to take any action on the complaint filed against him. The case had been adjourned to July 23, Monday, as the additional advocate general sought time to offer an explanation.

​​The Madras High Court was hearing the petition filed by DMK’s organising secretary R S Bharathi who had petitioned about the assets amassed by OPS and his family members. In his complaint, the DMK MP and organising secretary Bharathi alleged that OPS has acquired huge amounts of wealth in his name, in the name of his family members and benamis even as he rose from a mere party worker to an MLA, minister and then the chief minister.

With the DVAC taking no action on the complaint, Bharathi approached the Madras High Court on Tuesday. The petition filed against the DVAC came up for hearing before Judge Jayachandran. The petition further deep dived into the link between OPS and sand mining baron Sekar Reddy.

The case was filed in the Madras High Court on behalf of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Charity for conducting the inquiry into the incident. In this case, the judges questioned why the trial was not investigated for 3 months.

The Government of Tamil Nadu has stated that it has ordered the first phase of investigation in the property accumulation case on the OPS family. The High Court directed that the inquiry should be completed soon.