Plea seeks DVAC probe into Minister’s wealth

Minister had purchased 34 acres of land for Rs.74 lakh

June 26, 2013 09:57 am | Updated November 16, 2021 08:36 pm IST - CHENNAI:

A public interest litigation petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to conduct a detailed enquiry into the alleged acquisition of wealth by Information Minister, K.T. Rajendra Balaji, which was “disproportionate to known sources of his income.”

In the petition, M. Raja of Anaiyur, Madurai, said that Mr. Balaji hailed from Thiruthangal town in Virudhunagar district district. He was elected to the Assembly from the Sivakasi constituency in 2011. In the declaration of assets filed along with his nomination, he had said the total current market value of his immovable assets was Rs.29.38 lakh.

The petitioner alleged that it had now come to light that the Minister had purchased 34 acres at Devadhanam village in Virudhunagar district for Rs.74 lakh.

The estate was at the foothills of the Western Ghats. He sent a complaint dated June 4 to the DVAC for a detailed enquiry, but the agency hesitated to initiate action. Hence, the present petition.

The First Bench comprising the Acting Chief Justice R.K.Agrawal and Justice M.Sathyanarayanan on Tuesday adjourned the matter by four weeks.

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