Like a ping-pong ball...: DMK cries vendetta over ED case against minister

The political temperature has risen in Tamil Nadu ahead of elections over an ED case against senior minister KN Nehru, who has been accused of bribery. The DMK has mounted a strong defence, calling it 'political jealousy'.

The DMK accused the BJP of carrying out "political vendetta" on the advice of AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswami against senior Tamil Nadu minister KN Nehru, who faces ED charges in a Rs 365 crore cash-for-jobs case. The political temperature has risen in Tamil Nadu ahead of elections after the Madras High Court on Friday directed the state's anti-corruption department to immediately register a criminal case against Nehru.

In a hard-hitting press conference in Chennai, DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi said Nehru won't be intimidated by such threats and "bounce back stronger like a ping-pong ball". Bharathi asserted that the case against the municipal administration minister was driven by "political jealousy" over his election-related work. Nehru was recently appointed as the party in charge of 41 constituencies.

"Out of jealousy over his election work, those in Delhi, on the advice of Edappadi Palaniswami, are taking such actions. The DMK will legally confront and crush this false case," Bharathi said. The case pertains to bribery in appointments to the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) department.

The DMK leader alleged that while a CBI probe was underway in the case, the ED had seized certain documents. However, the CBI case was quashed after Nehru approached the Madras High Court.

"Even though the CBI case was quashed, leaving the ED without sufficient evidence, they still requested the Tamil Nadu government to take action," Bharathi said.

He said Chief Minister MK Stalin, without considering Nehru's seniority or party stature, ordered a detailed inquiry. That investigation is currently ongoing. "This is not a setback. The DMK's legal wing is fully prepared," he said.