The CBI on Wednesday conducted simultaneous searches in the residences of Tamil Nadu Health Minister Dr. C. Vijaya Baskar, Director General of Police T.K. Rajendran, former Minister B.V. Ramana and many others in connection with the gutkha scam .
Searches were also made in the residence of the former Chennai Police Commissioner, S. George.
Special teams, comprising officials of the CBI’s Anti Corruption-III Unit from New Delhi, commenced the searches early morning.
This is the first time the CBI is conducting searches in the residence of a DGP in the State.
Stalin welcomes raids
DMK president M.K. Stalin said, "The raids on the houses of Tamil Nadu Minister for Health and Family Planning Dr. C. Vijaya Baskar, former Chennai Police Commissioner George and Tamil Nadu DGP T.K. Rajendran have brought shame to Tamil Nadu."
Raids follow interrogation of gutkha manufacturer
“We are conducting raids on the residences of the Tamil Nadu DGP, State Health Minister and 30 others places in Tamil Nadu in connection with the case relating to the gutkha scam,” a CBI spokesperson told The Hindu .
Sources in the CBI said the residences of present and former police officials who were considered close to Mr. Rajendran and Mr. George were being searched.
Searches were also conducted against an IRS (Customs) officer and certain officials of the Food Safety and Sales Tax departments in Chennai, the sources said.
The raids come days after the CBI interrogated manufacturer of MDM brand of gutkha Madhava Rao. Investigators also examined the persons who allegedly handed over the bribe money to top officials, and recorded their statements.
The ₹39.91 crore scam
The gutkha scam, exposed by The Hindu in June 2017 , pertains to the alleged involvement of Dr. Baskar, Mr. Rajendran, Mr. George and a few other IPS officers among others, in taking bribes to the tune of ₹39.91 crore for facilitating the storage, transportation and sale of the banned commodity in Chennai city.
T.K. Rajendran (left) and S. George.
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), registered a case in September 2017, but could not file a charge sheet within the stipulated six months. On a petition filed by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MLA J. Anbalagan, the Madras High Court transferred the case to the CBI. When challenged, the Madras High Court order was upheld by the Supreme Court.
In May last, the CBI’s Anti-Corruption (III) Unit, New Delhi, registered an FIR against unknown officials of the Central Excise Department, the Government of Tamil Nadu, the Food Safety Department, public servants and private persons under sections 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy) of the IPC and also invoked provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
