Talking to reporters at party headquarters, Palaniswami said the report was totally baseless and there was no iota of truth in it.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday denied reports linking him with the break-in that took place at former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's Kodanad estate in the Nilgiris in April 2017. He alleged the allegation was a political move to defame the ruling AIADMK in the state.
Talking to reporters at party headquarters, Palaniswami said the report was totally baseless and there was no iota of truth in it.
"A complaint has been lodged with Chennai police on Friday night. Investigation will throw light on those behind it and strong action will be initiated against those responsible," Palaniswami said referring to former Tehelka editor Samuel Mathew releasing a video in New Delhi on Friday, in which the accused allegedly linked the CM to the break-in.
The video footage contains conversations of former Tehelka journalist with the accused Sayan and V Manoj. "The incapable and spineless, who could not face us in politics directly, indulged in such cowardly act," the Chief Minister said.
Palaniswami said the probe will reveal who was behind the incident, even as he charged that it was an attempt to "malign Amma", referring to late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.
In April 2017, the security guard of the Kodanad estate, Jayalalithaa's retreat home in the hilly district of the Nilgiris, was found dead. It emerged during the probe that Jayalalithaa's former driver C Kanagaraj and KV Sayan had allegedly plotted the crime. A total of ten people had been arrested in the case, with a charge sheet also being filed later. However, Kanagaraj and Sayan's wife and daughter were killed in separate road accidents during the probe, even as another employee of the property was found dead, in a case of suspected suicide.
DMK president MK Stalin has demanded that Palaniswami step down till investigation into the break-in is complete. "I called them a criminal cabinet earlier due to allegations of corruption. Now there are allegation of murder and robbery. Edappadi Palaniswami should step down immediately. All the perpetrators should be punished by law," he said in a statement.
AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran seeks a high court judge monitored probe in murder and robbery incidents at Kodanad estate of Jayalalithaa.
On Saturday, Palaniswami said the accused people, some of whom reportedly spoke in the video, had appeared in court 22 times in connection with the case so far, and questioned why they did not share the same in the court.
"They are saying such new things in an attempt to divert the case," he said.
AIADMK joint coordinator also denied Jayalalithaa had stored documents received from party functionaries in the estate as purportedly claimed by them in the video on Saturday, saying she never obtained any such papers. "Those unable to take us on politically are resorting to such cheap cowardice," he said, and asserted a probe will reveal those doing so.
Allegation
Former Tehelka editor Samuel Mathew released a video in New Delhi on Friday in which the accused allegedly linked CM Palaniswami to the break-in at former CM J Jayalalithaa’s Kodanad estate in April 2017
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