Chennai, Dec 22 (UNI) The Opposition DMK on Tuesday met Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and submitted a 98-page representation alleging large scale corruption by the ruling AIADMK, the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers.
DMK President and Leader of the Opposition M K Stalin, accompanied
by senior leaders, met Mr Purohit at the Raj Bhavan and handed over
the representation along with material evidences.
He requested him to direct the DVAC to inquire and register cases under
Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018 and investigate the
cases as per law.
Later, talking to reporters, he said the Governor promised to look into the
complaint and take action.
In the representation, he said the material provided by him against the
government was sufficient to initiate inquiry under provisions of the
Constitution and various statutes including Indian Penal Code, Prevention
of Corruption Act, Transparency in Tenders Rules and so on.
'We further impress, through this representation, that any restraint
from proceeding with the lawful criminal prosecution, would destroy
the faith of the people of Tamil Nadu in the rule of law', he said.
The Supreme Court has reiterated in a number of cases that the rule
of law forms the bedrock of democracy and this was postulated in the
famous words, “Be you ever so high, the law is above you”, he said.
Mr Stalin also alleged that the DMK was submitting this representation
in the light of the continued obstruction of legal proceedings by the
Council of Ministers of the Tamil Nadu Government by influencing the
Police Department, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption
and the State Vigilance Commission in order to prevent registration
of FIR and thereafter, any impartial and fair investigation into the
allegations of corruption against them.
'While doing so, the Council of Ministers, led by the Chief Minister,
have continued to exert undue influence on public servants in order
to stop them from taking action against organized plunder of the public
exchequer. As such, these actions have broken the backbone of the
principle of accountability, which is enshrined in the Constitution
various statutory enactments, the diktats of the Supreme Court (notably,
in Vineet Narain - vs.- Union of India) and the High Courts', he said.
Mr Stalin said since the Governor is the head of the Executive of the
State, a constitutional duty was cast upon him to ensure probity and
integrity of the Council of Ministers, upon whose aid and advice the
Government of the State was conducted.
'At present, the police and vigilance authorities and also, the
prosecution is directly under the control and supervision of the
Council of Ministers, particularly the Chief Minister, to whom all
of the heads of the aforementioned departments report.
Stating that these were cogent allegations of serious and cognizable
criminal offences, which were being levelled against the members of
the Council of Ministers, he said a bare reading of these allegations
would reveal and establish prima facie cases of acts of corruption,
accumulation of assets disproportionate to known sources of income
and other offences punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act
2018, unlawfully influencing commercial tenders leading to breach of
Transparency in Tenders Rules 2000, misappropriation of public funds,
criminal breach of trust as a public servant and other offences under
the Indian Penal Code 1860, are detailed in this fepresentation, for
the knowledge of the Governor and swift action.
UNI GV 1135