DMK leader seeks ‘fair probe’ for awarding road contracts at inflated rates by former TN CM Palaniswami
India Today
DMK leader RS Bharati has asked for a fair probe into allegations that former TN CM Palaniswami awarded road contracts at inflated rates to his relatives in 2018. The Supreme court ruled that no CBI enquiry would take place and referred the case to the Madras HC.
Senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader RS Bharati has sought a fair probe into the case of former Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) allegedly awarding road contracts at inflated rates to his close relatives.
This comes after the Supreme Court on Wednesday, August 3, ruled that no CBI investigation will be conducted on former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami over misusing his office.
In 2018, DMK organisational secretary, RS Bharati, alleged that Palaniswami awarded multiple road contracts/projects at inflated rates to his close relatives, in gross violation of World Bank guidelines.
After the Supreme Court's decision today, RS Bharati said, "Totally, the case has not been set aside. It has only been sent to the Madras High Court. My council has asked for a fair investigation. Only when there is a complete scrap of the case, will ESPS get relief and celebrate. We have only asked for a fair investigation and that is being done."
In 2018, DMK senior leader RS Bharathi filed a petition against EPS in the MHC. In the petition, the senior DMK leader had alleged that there were irregularities in awarding tenders worth Rs 4,800 crore when EPS was the state highways minister.
On October 9, 2018, the MHC ordered the case to be transferred to the CBI to ensure a transparent enquiry was conducted.
EPS had approached the Supreme Court against the MHC’s order. The SC, which heard the case in 2018, had given an interim stay on the CBI's investigation.
