Tamil Nadu Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao on Monday forwarded the complaint of the DMK-led opposition parties about a sting operation on suspected attempts to bribe AIADMK MLAs during the February Vote of Confidence to the Assembly Speaker and Chief Secretary “for appropriate action”. Separately, when a case related to the issue filed by the DMK came up for hearing before the Madras High Court, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami submitted that he would file a detailed counter affidavit.
On Saturday last, Leader of the Opposition and DMK working president M.K. Stalin along with a delegation of legislators including Congress Legislative Party leader K. R. Ramasamy and IUML leader Mohammed Abubacker submitted to the Governor a memorandum and a CD containing footage of an alleged sting operation conducted by two private television channels.
In the sting operation, two AIADMK legislators belonging to rival factions – S.S. Saravanan (AIADMK-PTA) and R. Kanagaraj (AIADMK Amma) – are heard claiming that huge money and even gold was offered to MLAs to win their support for the Sasikala faction following the rebellion by former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.
Subsequently, during a Motion of Confidence moved by the Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on February 18, 122 MLAs had voted in his favour.
According to a Raj Bhavan press release, Mr. Stalin, on the strength of the CD containing the footage of the sting operation, had requested the Governor to intervene and order a fresh Vote of Confidence and also to direct an investigation by the CBI into the (alleged) offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He also sought a probe by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence or the Enforcement Directorate to unearth the money trail and investigate offences under the Money Laundering Act.
No to independent probe
Meanwhile, when the case came up in the court, R. Krishnamoorthy, senior counsel for the Chief Minister, opposed the DMK’s plea for an independent probe into the sting operation. He sought time to enable Mr. Palaniswami to file a detailed counter affidavit.
Recording the submission, the Division Bench of Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and M. Sundar posted the plea to June 23. When the plea came up for hearing on Monday, senior counsel R. Shanmugasundaram appearing for the petitioner submitted that for proper adjudication of the issue, directions may be passed including impleading the investigating agencies as party to the petition.