Opposition leaders on Friday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami after the Madras High Court ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into a complaint alleging nepotism and corruption in the award of contracts by the Highways Department — a portfolio held by Mr. Palaniswami.
Accusing the CM of pulling the strings in the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption’s (DVAC) probe into the graft allegations by using an Inspector General accused of sexual harassment, Mr. Stalin said Mr. Palaniswami had misused his office. “He made the DVAC file a report before the High Court stating that there were no corruption charges against him, and has brought disrepute to the entire agency,” Mr. Stalin alleged.
The Chief Minister was quite unabashed in his contention that there was nothing wrong in awarding contracts to his family members, he said, adding that Mr. Palaniswami was the only Chief Minister in the country’s history to have awarded such contracts to members of their family.
Plea to Governor
“Not only that, but by bypassing all the anti-corruption measures outlined by the World Bank’s guidelines, he has also brought shame on Tamil Nadu on a global level,” the DMK leader said. With the High Court ordering a CBI probe, Mr. Palaniswami should immediately resign and pave the way for an independent investigation, he said, adding, “If he fails to resign, the Governor should dismiss him forthwith.”
Court-monitored probe
Welcoming the CBI probe, CPI (M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan said, “Till the investigation is complete, Mr. Palaniswami does not have the moral authority to continue as Chief Minister. We would also like to see a court-monitored probe into the matter.”
PMK founder S. Ramadoss said the Chief Minister should take responsibility for the corruption in the State Highways Department and step down.
AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran alleged that corruption was rampant across all departments under the present regime. “In Mr. Palaniswami, we see someone who is corrupt from head to toe,” he said.
TMC president G.K. Vasan said the court’s order for a CBI probe was a matter of shame for the State government, adding this would only heighten the doubts that people had about the present regime.
VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan said that if Mr. Palaniswami remained in office, it would only give room for diverting the course of the investigation and manipulating witnesses in the case.