M Karunanidhi dubs probe panel into Chennai building collapse an eyewash, demands CBI probe

Terming as an "eyewash" the setting up of an inquiry commission by Tamil Nadu government to probe the 11-storeyed under construction building collapse which claimed 61 lives in Chennai, DMK President M Karunanidhi on Friday demanded a CBI investigatiom into the incident.

Referring to the appointment of retired Madras High Court judge R Reghupathy as the head of the commission, Karunanidhi in a letter in his party organ "Murasoli" said no timeframe had been fixed for submission of its report.

"Ommission of the timeframe itself gives the impression that the appointment of the commission is an eyewash..", Karunanidhi alleged in his statement.

Quoting media reports about possible causes of the June 28 collapse, he said "an inquiry by CBI will be appropriate if information about what irregularities had taken place and who were the beneficiaries are to come out."

Meanwhile, DMK Chennai and Kancheepuram district units on Friday announced a 'Rajbhavan March' on July 12 to condemn the state government for approving the building plan and demanding a CBI probe, a party release said.