Court asks DVAC to explain delay in probe against OPS

Madras High Court on Tuesday asked why a CBI probe should not be ordered into allegations that Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam has amassed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

While hearing a petition filed by principal Opposition DMK, Justice G Jayachandran also pulled up the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption for sitting idle for three months on a complaint regarding disproportionate assets of Pannerselvam, who stood in as Chief Minister twice when late J Jayalalithaa's tenure was cut short due to court verdicts.

He was Chief Minister from September 2001 to February 2002, September 2014 to May 2015 and December 2016 to February 2017. He is serving as deputy chief minister since August 2017.

Justice Jayachandran observations came on a petition filed by DMK Rajya Sabha MP R S Bharathi seeking a direction to DVAC to register a case against Panneerselvam. Bharathi alleged that the DVAC has not taken any action on his complaint submitted way back in March.

Seeking to know why a CBI probe cannot be instituted to probe the allegations, the judge granted time till July 23 for the DVAC to list reasons for not initiating any action.

'Benami' properties

Bharathi has alleged that Panneerselvam had amassed wealth by abusing his power gained unlawfully and invested the same in companies and properties either in his name or that of his "benamis".

Referring to Panneerselvam's declaration before the Election Commission in 2014-15 that he had an annual income of Rs 5.80 lakh while his basic salary as an MLA was Rs 6.60 lakh, the petitioner claimed that in the same period, the deputy chief minister had bought a car worth Rs 17.85 lakh.