The Opposition’s allegations against the State government in connection with the raids targeting a Highways Department contractor and an egg supplier were unsubstantiated and politically motivated, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said here on Wednesday.
Addressing reporters at the Coimbatore airport, he said the income-tax raids on the SPK group of companies were for tax evasion. The State government too had conducted similar raids to check Sales Tax evasion. “These raids have nothing to do with my government,” he said. To say that he should quit because his relatives were involved was also a politically motivated statement, he said. “My son’s relatives in Erode have won contracts worth several crores during the DMK’s regime as well. And, I have friends/relatives all over the State, who bid for contracts from the government. This accusation [by the Opposition] and the demand for [my] resignation by DMK working president M.K. Stalin is just politically motivated,” he said.
Defending his government further, Mr. Palaniswami said it floated tenders electronically, leaving no scope for manipulation.
With regard to the allegations of a scam in egg procurement, the Chief Minister, while listing statistics, said, “When the total tender value from 2013 to 2018 was only ₹2,031 crore, how is it that political parties are alleging a scam of ₹5,000 crore?”
To a query on the Madras High Court’s observation as to why there shouldn’t be a CBI probe against his deputy, O. Panneerselvam, the Chief Minister said he would not comment on an issue that was before the court. “The judge has expressed his opinion,” he added.
Stalin flays CM’s ‘silence’
Earlier, DMK working president M.K. Stalin said that the “silence” of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami over the income-tax raids on the houses and offices of his in-laws and business partners could be construed as “an acknowledgement of irregularities”. “He should step down to ensure that there is a free and fair inquiry,” Mr. Stalin told reporters at the Chennai airport.
Referring to media reports that the raids had unearthed ₹180 crore in cash and 100 kg gold, Mr. Stalin alleged that Mr. Palaniswami, who also held the Public Works Department portfolio, never bothered to call for tenders when it came to allotting project work to his relatives and associates.
He demanded a probe by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption into the alleged irregularities.