DMK wants CBI report on Election Commission currency haul

CHENNAI: The DMK on Thursday moved the Madras High Court with a plea to furnish a copy of the report of CBI which investigated the case relating to seizure of `570 crores from three container lorries near Tirupur two years ago.

The three trucks were seized by Election Commission officials on May 14, 2016 during a vehicle check ahead of the by-election. Political parties raised a cue and cry alleging that the money was meant for distribution to voters.

Subsequently, the DMK moved the High Court seeking a CBI probe into the issue. Allowing the plea, the High Court had ordered a probe by the central agency in June 2016. After completing its inquiry, CBI filed a closure report in the court confirming that the money belonged to SBI and it was meant to be transferred to its Visakhapatnam branch, in August 2017.

Now, almost a year after the CBI filed the closure report, the party approached the High Court claiming that as the petitioner, it was entitled to a copy of the report.

During the lunch motion, DMK’s senior counsel P Wilson made a mention before a division bench headed by Justice R Subbiah and urged him to take up the issue for hearing. “We were informed that the report was filed in a sealed cover in the court by CBI. It is not a secret document, it should be made public and the DMK party, as the petitioner, is entitled to a copy”, counsel said. The judge replied that he will take up the plea on Friday.