Probe against CM on: TN govt tells HC

In yet another embarrassment to the AIADMK government, the DVAC on Friday told the Madras High Court that it has launched a preliminary enquiry into allegations that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami indulged in several irregularities during allotment of the highway projects.

Already, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) is probing into allegations that Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his family members possess assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. Tamil Nadu Advocate General Vijay Narayan told the court on Friday that a preliminary probe was already on in connection with the allegations.

The court was hearing a petition filed by the DMK seeking a direction to the DVAC to probe allegations that Palaniswami amassed wealth by allotting highway projects to his relatives. When Narayan told the court that the probe was already on, DMK’s counsel N R Elango reminded that a probe by the DVAC should be completed in a two-month time period, which according to him has elapsed.

The DMK had filed a petition before the DVAC in June seeking registration of cases against Palaniswami and his relatives. Palaniswami was PWD minister in J Jayalalithaa and Panneerselvam cabinet before he assumed office as chief minister in February 2017.