M K Stalin raises doubts about gutka probe

CHENNAI: The DMK on Friday raised doubts about the way CBI was probing the gutka scam. In a statement, DMK president M K Stalin said the CBI, after arresting the people who had allegedly given money to state health minister C Vijaya Baskar, DGP T K Rajendran and a few other officials, has failed to act against those who received the bribe.
“The minister was questioned for several hours for 2 days after CBI searched his and DGP’s residences. This probe was ordered by the Supreme Court based on a case filed by the DMK. The party will once again go to the Supreme Court on the issue if no action is taken against the two accused,” said Stalin. “I want the governor to take action against the DGP and minister as the state government or chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will not act against them. Both Vijaya Baskar and DGP are shamelessly continuing in their posts despite being probed by the CBI in a graft case,” said Stalin.

He also demanded action against the officials who had handed over a confidential file pertaining to the gutka case to V K Sasikala when she was living with former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in the Poes Garden residence of former CM. The I-T officials seized the file from Sasikala’s room during a search conducted on the premises after Sasikala’s imprisonment.

The DMK president criticised the Centre’s move to give permission to select agencies to access all computers. “The order is a direct violation of fundamental rights & against the right to privacy guaranteed by our constitution. The order must be taken back. We are not a surveillance state. This is totally unacceptable,” tweeted Stalin.