Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss on Sunday called for the resignation of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami over an alleged ₹1,000 crore bitumen purchase scam in the Highways Department.
In a statement here, Dr. Ramadoss alleged that even after becoming the Chief Minister, Mr. Palaniswami held onto the highways portfolio because the department was a cash-cow.
Referring to a public interest litigation filed in the Madras High Court, he said Highways Department officials, in collusion with contractors, had looted ₹1,000 crore between 2014 and 2016 in the guise of procuring bitumen for laying roads and for undertaking maintenance work under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme.
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He said that prices of bitumen changed every month depending on the rates fixed by oil companies. When the price increased above the amount fixed while granting the contract, the department would have to pay the additional cost to the contractors. Similarly, when the price reduced, the difference had to be returned to the department. However, this difference has been siphoned off by officials, contractors and the Minister concerned, he alleged.
Alleging that it was not an innocent oversight, Dr. Ramadoss said the action of the officials had resulted in a huge loss for the State government. The Department’s contracts, the PMK founder alleged, were being awarded to the Chief Minister’s relatives. Calling for a detailed probe into the scam by the CBI, he demanded that the Chief Minister resign so that the investigation could be carried out without any interference.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President Su. Thirunavukkarasar too called for a CBI probe into the alleged scam. Accusing the AIADMK government of being steeped in corruption, he said that in order to retain power, it was indulging in horse trading.
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