Stalin demands CBI probe into ‘mega scams’ by TN govt, meets Governor

Stalin’s petition alleges that TN CM Edappadi Palaniswami has awarded road contracts worth Rs 3120 crores to his relatives.
Stalin demands CBI probe into ‘mega scams’ by TN govt, meets Governor
Stalin demands CBI probe into ‘mega scams’ by TN govt, meets Governor
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DMK Working President MK Stalin met Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Monday and presented a petition seeking a probe into the alleged corruption charges against Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami.

In a two-page petition submitted to the Governor, Stalin accused Edappadi Palaniswami of ‘Himalayan Corruption’ and ‘gross misappropriation of public funds for his personal gain’. He requested the Governor to take action to initiate a CBI probe into the ‘mega-scams’ by the council of ministers under AIADMK government.

His petition follows the Income Tax raids conducted on SPK Group, a highways contractor in Tamil Nadu, and its promoter Nagarajan Seyyadurai last week, which saw a seizure of Rs 180 crores unaccounted cash and more than 105 kilograms of gold. Stalin also claims in his petition that Nagarajan Seyyadurai has business interests with P Subramaniam, who is the father-in-law of Mithun, the CM’s son.

The petition stated that EPS has held the portfolio of Highways and Minor Ports department since 2011 and went on to state that he has allocated around four contracts pertaining to road construction and maintenance to firms owned by Nagarajan Seyyadurai and P Subramaniam.

The contracts awarded by the EPS government to firms owned by Nagarajan Seyyadurai and P Subramaniam as stated in the petition are --

  1. Contract worth Rs 720 crore for strengthening Tirunelveli-Sengottai-Kollam 4-way highway was awarded to M/s Venkatachalapathy and Co (P Subramaniam is a partner in the firm).
  2. Contract worth Rs 200 crore to build the Madurai Ring Road was awarded to M/s Sri Balaji Tollways Pvt Ltd ( Directors of Balaji Tollways are P Subramaniam, Nagarajan Seyyadurai and Sekar Reddy).
  3. Contract worth Rs 200 crore was awarded to M/s SPK and Co to upgrade Vandalur-Wallajah salai (SPK and Co is owned by Nagarajan Seyyadurai).
  4. Contract worth Rs 2000 crore pertaining to Tiruvallur, Krishnagiri, Pollachi, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram divisions were awarded to M/s Venkatachalapathy and Co.

The petition stated, “Hence, Thiru Edappadi K Palaniswami has, with an ulterior motive, ensured that the Ministry of Highways and Minor Ports continued to be under his effective control over the past seven years and has earned pecuniary advantage to a very great extent by misusing his office entrusted to him as the Minister for Highways and also as the Chief Minister.”

Alleging that EPS has “violated the oath of office taken before the Hon’ble Governor to work as per the Constitution and law without fear or favour”, Staling states that the CM, as a public servant, has committed all the offences under the relevant sub sections of the Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.

Referring to the complaint filed by DMK MP RS Bharathi with the Directorate of Vigilance and  Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in June demanding action against the Chief Minister, the petition requested the Governor to take action to probe the corruption charges against Edappadi Palaniswami and also the persons connected with him.

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