Why shouldn't there be a CBI probe into alleged gutka scam, asks Madras HC

The Government's counsel argued that the vigilance department is already looking into the matter, thus making a CBI probe redundant.
Why shouldn't there be a CBI probe into alleged gutka scam, asks Madras HC
Why shouldn't there be a CBI probe into alleged gutka scam, asks Madras HC
Written by:

In oral observation regarding the alleged Gutka scam, the Madras High Court on Monday asked why a CBI inquiry should not be ordered into it.

The first bench mentioned this while hearing a plea filed by the DMK to constitute a special investigation team to probe the scam.

The Government's counsel however argued that the vigilance department is already looking into the matter, thus making a CBI probe redundant.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Indira Banerjee noted that the allegations made by DMK legislator J Anbazhagan about the involvement of the health minister and a police officer in the rank of DGP in the scam are serious in nature.

The petitioner's counsel submitted that the sale of Gutka and pan masala was prohibited in Tamil Nadu under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.

Last year however, income tax raids conducted on the premises of gutka manufacturers allegedly revealed that they had support from politicians and policemen for the sale of the banned products.

The principal director of the IT department then wrote a letter to the state chief secretary claiming that a ledger containing details of money paid as bribes to a minister and top bureaucrats of the state, was seized. The department then requested that an inquiry be conducted into the matter.

The court then stressed on the importance of the case and deliberated on the necessity of a CBI probe in the matter. 

 

Related Stories

No stories found.
The News Minute
www.thenewsminute.com