Gutkha scam: Edappadi K Palaniswami rejects call for CBI probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday dismissed the opposition DMK's demand for a CBI probe into the alleged bribe paid to a minister and police officers over the sale of banned gutkha and informed the state Assembly that the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) is conducting a probe into it.

Raising the issue of the gutkha scam for the second consecutive day in the Assembly, Leader of the Opposition MK Stalin sought the sacking of the minister and senior police officers for their alleged role in allowing the sale of banned gutkha products after taking bribes. He wanted the government to order a CBI probe to unearth the truth.

Later, Stalin told reporters outside the Assembly that the Income Tax raids last year against Madhava Rao of a gutkha manufacturing firm had led to seizure of diaries and some accounting ledgers that had details of alleged payouts made to Health Minister Dr C Vijayabaskar and DPGs TK Rajendran and S George.

Replying to Stalin, Palaniswami said that the then Chennai Police Commissioner, in his letter dated December 22 last year to the Home Secretary, wrote that he had received information about the role of some police officers who had connived with anti-social elements for the manufacture, sale and distribution of banned gutkha. Based on the letter, he said that the state government has ordered a preliminary enquiry by DVAC on January 23. He added that the issue was being probed by the anti-corruption unit.

Palaniswami also pointed out that the Madras High Court had on January 27 dismissed a writ petition filed by an individual, T Vincent, seeking a CBI probe into the issue. "There was no reason why the court should step into the issue when the authorities themselves were conscious of the gravity of the issue," the Chief Minister said about the court's observation.