Probe ordered into 'unauthorised' tea factory by Jayalalithaa

The Tamil Nadu government today ordered an inquiry by an IAS officer into the reported "unauthorised construction" of a tea factory by AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa at Kodanadu in Nilgiris district.

The probe comes a day after chief minister M Karunanidhi said the government would not act in haste and would take steps legally on the issue.

Rural Development Director D Udhayachandran has been directed to conduct a detailed investigation, an official release here said.

When asked by a reporter yesterday in Coimbatore whether the state government would take action on the setting up of a tea factory allegedly by Jayalalithaa in violation of rules, Karunanidhi said it was "news" to him.

He had said the government would take necessary legal steps.